the adventure yacht

The Adventure Yacht  Co

The Adventure Yacht Company was founded by sustainability expert, adventurer and explorer, Keith Tuffley, inspired by a sailing and  skiing expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula with the legendary, high-latitude sailor, Roger Wallis. Following this experience of unmatched wilderness and adventure, Keith started the Adventure Yacht Company to offer adventurous, life-changing sailing experiences to the world’s wildest and most remote destinations. Keith is a Fellow of the Explorers Club and is the first person to cycle from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole.

The "Abel Tasman"

The "Abel Tasman" has been with us since the start of the Adventure Yacht Company. We have sailed all around the world - including Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, Alaska, Greenland, and S valbard - showing our guests the unique virtue of exploring nature by sea. She is a magnificent, hand-built, 75-ft Bermuda Schooner yacht, designed to be the ultimate adventure vessel capable of sailing to the wildest places on Earth.

Sail and Science trips

In 2022, we started to offer “Sail and Science” trips in Lofoten, with brothers Isak and Alex Rockström as our captain, first mate, and expedition leaders. Isak and Alex have sailed all their lives, racing, instructing and crossing oceans together. They are Climate Science students at the University of Bergen in Norway, and joined us at the Adventure Yacht Company with the opportunity to combine their two passions of climate and sailing. With their resources from university, scientific counsel from Professor Dr. Johan Rockström, and with Keith Tuffley advising on sustainability in the business and finance world, we set out to create an adventure experience in Northern Norway connected to nature and with a strong environmental purpose. 

It is a truly unique experience to be able to sail and explore on the beautiful Abel Tasman yacht, with climate experts Isak and Alex Rockström, and in one of the most beautiful places in the world - the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway  

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The 10 Best Explorer Yachts for High-Seas Adventures

A 350-foot gigayacht or 60-foot cruiser size isn't what defines an explorer yacht. the devil's in the details when it comes to authenticity., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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Unlike fashion trends that seem to move as fast as a Redbull F1 car, the yachting industry takes its time adopting new ideas. There seems to be one exception. Explorer vessels, born out of the owners’ desires to go farther and stay longer, without sacrificing creature comforts, is developing with some urgency.

Several dozen builders and designers are now focusing on explorers, but they are also consulting with adventure travel firms that have a long history of using expedition yachts in remote parts of the globe. ICON Yachts, for example, collaborated with Cookson Adventures and the International Seakeepers Society on its Project Mission in both the overarching design and the details found across the yacht. Adventure outfitter EYOS employs its expertise routinely with Damen’s explorer vessels, most recently with the 190-foot Pink Shadow.   EYOS has a list of 50 features that separate authentic explorers from faux versions that might look the part but lack the necessary infrastructure and design elements.

Long-range cruising, system redundancy for autonomy at sea, and storage to carry specialist equipment like submersibles are some of the requirements that define expedition boats. There’s also deck configuration for the easy launch of tenders and toys, along with strong, ice-class hulls and climate-controlled areas comfort in extreme polar and tropic regions.

We culled through the latest fleet of explorers with multiple lengths and designs, selecting a single feature that we think makes it best in class. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Best Pilothouse: Doggersbank 77 Offshore

More than 700 Doggersbank motoryachts have been built since the 1960s, with the latest model scheduled for delivery in 2025. The robust, offshore vessels are designed by Dutch studio Vripack for long ocean passages, assisted by a high, flared bow. “It prevents green water from hitting the wheelhouse windows in rough seas, and together with the Portuguese bridge, ensures the captain’s view is not obstructed,” Joost Mertens, Doggersbank fleet manager, told Robb Report . “The yacht’s steel hull ensures the yacht sits better in the water making it less vulnerable to wind and high waves.”

Best Deck Configuration: Columbus Crossover 42

The Columbus Crossover 42 is defined by both straight and angled surfaces,  tapered stern sections and a concentration of volume in the bow that is becoming on many explorers. What is atypical is the yacht’s compact but flexible dimensions that accommodate a large cockpit tender and a 108-square-foot swimming pool with relaxation areas. Sold to an U.S. customer, it’s scheduled for delivery in 2025.

Best Multipurpose Stern: Bering B165

Turkish boatbuilder Bering Yachts revealed details of its new 162-foot flagship explorer yacht, the B165 , at the Dubai International Boat Show in March. The yacht can carry 18,400 gallons of fuel, which the builder says will give it a 4,000 nautical mile range when cruising at 12 knots. It also has a 2,640-gallon holding tank. What singles the B165 out among other explorers, however, is its multi-purpose stern area for both function and form. The elongated aft deck has a swimming pool surrounded by sunbeds. When the bulwarks are folded down, the space becomes an even larger overwater terrace. When the pool is not in use, it can be used as a covered storage area for water toys and expedition equipment. The yacht’s two tenders are also stored on the aft, making it a flexible space for both equipment and guests.

Best Family-Friendly Concept: Project Mimer

This 197-foot expedition concept by Tillberg Design of Sweden caters to family travel with a helicopter pad as well as multiple tenders and toys. It’s pitched by the studio as an introduction to true explorer yachting. It has a functional crew layout for efficient operations and an upper deck owner’s suite with a forward terrace and spa pool. With a hull that will be built to the Polar Code Category, the concept also has an optional helipad aft and long list of toys, from an electric luxury tender and two expedition RIBS to quad bikes, a submersible, Jet Skis, and, of course, an amphibious vehicle. The five-decked yacht sleeps 12 guests with crew quarters for 17 and an additional staff member, such as a nanny.

Best Ice Explorer: Damen SeaXplorer 105

Damen’s 345-foot SeaXplorer 105 is the largest model in the SeaXplorer range, with exterior design by Azure Yacht Design. The platform was developed under the guidance of expedition specialists EYOS Expeditions, who considered over 150 design criteria, from the hull form and bridge layout to the tender davits and Zodiac boarding arrangements. But it is EYOS’s expertise in the polar regions—it facilitated the first heli-ski charter in Antarctica and the first 3,200-foot sub dive to the Antarctic midnight zone—that gives the vessel its point of difference. The SeaXplorer has an ice-strengthened hull and a specially shaped icebreaking stern to maneuver through rough terrain.

Best Interior: Project Fox

On top of having a cool name, Project Fox has a bright, contemporary interior, courtesy of London’s Q Design, that is becoming more common on expedition yachts. The full-beam owner’s stateroom is also one of the yacht’s standout features, with its marble en suite and hardwood floors. The salon is also luxe, with white walls that brighten up travel even in areas that are sunlight deprived. Project Fox also has four other staterooms.

Best Autonomy: Project Master

ICON Yachts’s Project Master was a transoceanic offshore support vessel before the Dutch shipyard began a refit to turn it into an explorer yacht (see before and after inset). It’s equipped with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion, a wide beam for multiple tender spaces, a 7,200-nautical mile range, and flexible cabin arrangements for expedition crew. Other features include a science lab and a certified heli-deck. “The yacht’s helicopter and sub capability mean it can offer assistance in areas with challenging access and little infrastructure,” Micca Ferrero, owner of ICON Yachts, told Robb Report . “The design is for the demands of self-sufficient voyages.”

Best Use of Volume: Arcadia Yachts A96

The A96 mixes the lines, volume, and open-plan layout of Arcadia’s Sherpa series with the speed, joystick maneuverability, and quality of the yard’s A range. It’s the first Arcadia to have an Igor Lobanov-designed interior, as well as a high bow and high deckheads for traversing rough water. But its big differentiator is the 214 gross tonnes of volume and 24-foot beam that generate big volumes—4,300 square feet of usable space, which is 30 percent more than on other similar-sized yachts. Low bulwarks and lateral walkways emphasize the sense of openness.

Best Bow: Project Shackleton

This 351-foot build from Lürssen has an inverted bow that looks like an eagle’s beak. The shape is designed to slice through waves with much lower vibration through the hull, while also reducing rock and roll in rough seas. Unlike the quasi-research vessel exteriors of many explorers, this vessel is representative of the changing look of many in this growing segment. 

Best Multi-Mode Hull: Azimut Magellano 60

The Magellano 60 isn’t technically an explorer yacht. Think of it as a cruiser  designed for some long-distance travel. But it does have one very interesting feature, what its builder Azimut calls a “dual-mode” hull. The semi-planing shape is designed to optimize fuel consumption (and therefore lower emissions) by about 20 percent (compared to similar-sized vessels) at low and medium speeds. The yacht’s bow is also designed to cut through waves for better seakeeping at a range of speeds. The boat cruises very efficiently at 18 knots but will hit a top end of 26, thus delivering the performance of a planing hull with the benefits of a displacement hull.

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• Explorer Yachts

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• Yachts for Charter
• Explorer Yachts for Charter

Best Explorer Yachts for Charter

Why charter an explorer yacht.

Chartering an explorer yacht is the perfect way to explore the world’s most remote locations in ultimate luxury, comfort, and style. Explorer yachts (or adventure/expedition yachts) are designed for cruising the world’s most remote regions yet offer all the luxury of a traditional superyacht. Explorer yachts for charter boast a range of amenities, including luxurious accommodation, gourmet cuisine, spa facilities, entertainment options, and a spectacular selection of tenders and toys, from helicopters to submersibles, providing an unforgettable experience for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Contact our team to learn more about renting an adventure yacht.

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What are the unique features of an expedition vessel?

There are many features that are unique to expedition vessels. One of the key features is that they are built to ice-class standards and are purposefully designed for cruising in extreme conditions. Explorer yachts are equipped with advanced navigation systems, communication devices, and tenders, while their large volume enables them to carry more provisions and fuel for extended periods at sea. For charterers, this puts the world’s most remote and exciting destinations within reach, including Antarctica , Patagonia, and the Arctic Circle. Other destinations include the Galapagos Islands and exotic locales such as the South Pacific Islands . If you want to explore the world’s most spectacular off-the-radar destination , contact N&J and let our team craft an incredible charter itinerary aboard an expedition yacht.

What are some of the world’s most famous explorer yachts?

Some of the most famous explorer yachts include:

• 417’ft (126.2m) M/Y OCTOPUS
• 78’6”ft (24m) Rena Umut Kocali U-BOAT NAVIGATOR
• 279’8”ft (85.3m) Silver Yachts BOLD

Contact an Explorer Yacht Broker

Find the best expedition yacht charter

Northrop & Johnson has access to every expedition yacht for rent on the planet including those built by the world’s most esteemed shipbuilders. Contact our team today, and let us connect you with your ideal vessel.

Find out more about Yacht Charter with N&J here .

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THE ADVENTURE

2020   lagoon    50ft  /  15.2m.

THE ADVENTURE Yacht Charter

THE ADVENTURE currently registered in the British Virgin Islands is actively available for charter.

The luxury sailing yacht THE ADVENTURE was built by Lagoon and delivered to her owner in 2020, she later underwent a refit in 2023.

The exterior of THE ADVENTURE is designed by VPLP.

Charter guest accommodation

THE ADVENTURE has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 8 charter guests in 4 suites.

The guest cabins comprise a primary suite with a queen size bed and en-suite bathroom facilities located aft, a VIP suite with a queen size bed and en-suite bathroom facilities, a cabin with a queen size bed and en-suite bathroom facilities and a cabin with a double bed .

Your luxury charter crew

Your luxury charter on board sailing yacht THE ADVENTURE will be managed by the crew of 2 including the captain.

The crew will ensure you have a relaxed and enjoyable charter experience with all of your needs catered for while on board.

The 2 crew have their own separate crew quarters located forward allowing guests to enjoy increased levels of privacy.

Amenities & Entertainment

Amenities on board for the charter guests include Air Conditioning, BBQ, Indoor audio system, Special diets, TV saloon and Wi-Fi.

An extensive list of further amenities and water toys can be seen under the features and amenities section.

Yacht charter destinations

THE ADVENTURE is Currently cruising in the Caribbean.

Sample itineraries for the cruising destinations can be supplied by your professional charter broker allowing you to plan your luxury yacht charter vacation in detail.

• Leeward Antilles
• Air Conditioning
• Indoor audio system
• Special diets
• Diving by arrangement
• 1x RIB at 50hp

Destinations

Frequently Asked Questions

How much to charter the adventure.

THE ADVENTURE has a weekly charter price starting at $20,000 and an estimated daily charter price of $3,330.

How many guests on board THE ADVENTURE?

THE ADVENTURE can accommodate 8 sleeping guests on board in 4 cabins, with the ability to cruise with up to 8 guests.

Legal Disclaimer

Sailing Yacht THE ADVENTURE is displayed on this page for informational purposes and may not necessarily be available for charter. The yacht details are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed, please check with your charter broker. Charter Index does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or images displayed as they may not be current. All yacht details and charter pricing are subject to change without prior notice and are without warranty.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection

The yachting industry has no global listing service to which all charter yachts must subscribe to, making it impossible to ascertain a truly up-to-date view of the market. Charter Index is a news and information service and not always informed when yachts leave the charter market, or when they are recently sold and renamed, it is not always clear if they are still for charter. Whilst we endeavour to maintain accurate information, the existence of a listing on Charter Index should in no way supersede official documentation supplied by the representatives of a yacht.

Specification

Popular related yachts

Feadship 2004

Summer Charter

€250,000 p/w

Winter Charter

$250,000 p/w

READY. SET. ADVENTURE.

Why compromise when you can have it all? With incredible deck spaces, huge living areas and brand-new interior design, discover why Adventure is better than ever.

Attention to detail has been lavished on furnishings, linen, art and an amazing collection of toys, recently updated to include every on-the-water must-have (hello foil boards!). Meaning that whatever kind of Adventure you seek, you’re sure to find it here. Start and end your day on Adventure’s sensational sun deck. With a huge Jacuzzi, barbecue, expansive sunbathing areas and even an outdoor cinema set up, it’s the kind of space that will keep the entire complement of guests entertained. Need some vitamin sea? The inflatable slide will have you there in seconds.

Not for sale or charter to U.S. residents while in U.S. waters

CHARTER LOCATION

Summer: Mediterranean, West Mediterranean, East Mediterranean

Standout Features

This is Adventure

No Compromises

Every detail has been thought through.

Exceptionally Stable

Zero-speed Fin stabilisers ensure maximum comfort at all times.

Vast Deck Spaces

Dining. Entertainment. Activity. Relaxation.

Outdoor Cinema

Entertainment under the stars.

Refreshed Interiors

Designed by Tino Zervudachi.

Can-do Crew

Creative and professional, the crew create lasting memories.

Long Toys List

So much to choose from, for all ages.

Yacht Video

Take a tour on board.

Media Gallery

Adventure Through the Lens

Sensational Spaces

All Weather. All Purpose.

Your own private beach club, Adventure’s vast deck spaces invite dining and entertaining for large groups, with glass windbreaks providing protection from the elements and enabling uncomplicated al-fresco entertaining in all weather conditions.

Versatile Sun Deck

Her spacious sun deck offers a bar, multiple sunbathing and seating areas, a barbecue and large Jacuzzi with adjacent sunpads which can convert to a sofa area with low tables, as well as dining for the entire complement of guests. There is also the option of a cinema set up on the sun deck and her film buff First Officer can give you several recommendations to keep you, or the children, entranced.

Accommodation

Sun. Sea. Sleep. Repeat.

Adventure has spacious accommodation for up to 12 guests in a configuration of either five or six cabins. A massage room adjacent to the principal cabin can be converted to a sixth cabin if needed, accommodating two additional guests with an ensuite wet room.

Cabin Arrangement

Principal Suite on the Main Deck

With study, lounge area, his and hers ensuites and a walk-in wardrobe.

Guest Doubles

Two comfortable double cabins each with ensuite.

Twin Cabins

Two twin cabins each with vanity desk and ensuite.

Seamless Service

Expert crew

Adventure’s longstanding crew are experts when it comes to service and hospitality. Nothing is too much trouble, from themed party nights on private beaches to keepsake video mementos of your adventures. With every detail thought through, Adventure lives up to her name and more.

All-new Toys. All-age Fun.

An outstanding toy collection awaits, daring you to try everything at least once. An assortment of all-new toys have been added to make this one of the best toyboxes to be found on a yacht charter. Try not to fall out over who gets the first turn on the new inflatable slide, and enjoy the thrill as you race down towards the water from the bridge deck. Her experienced crew will be on hand to instruct and advise for all water toy activities so you are free to let loose in a fun, but safe, environment.

What's in the toybox

2 x tenders 2 x Seadoo 2 x E-Flight Foiling Boards Inflatable Sailing Boat 2 x SUP Slide Fishing Gear Towables Wakeboards Waterskis Snorkelling Gear

Please note that the tenders and toys on board the yachts are regularly updated. Please contact Y.CO for the most up to date list.

Charter Adventure in the Med

Sardinia Circumnavigation

Bonifacio to Bonifacio. This itinerary begins and ends in Corsica, pouring French sparkle over La Dolce Vita and showcasing every island highlight.

Côte d'Azur Classic

Monaco to St Tropez. Cruise through the sybaritic history of the South of France. With a cast of painters, writers, winemakers and chefs.

Italian Riviera Coast Of Colour

Genoa to Portovenere. Charter a yacht on the Italian Riviera’s most colourful coastline for cliff dives, nightclub jives and Italian dinners on deck.

In The Shadow Of Volcanoes

Palermo to Catania. Cruise between Sicily’s two historic capitals. Hopping between the Aeolian Islands en route to black sand beaches, seismic fireworks and volcanic Jacuzzi baths.

Flavours Of Greece

Athens to Athens. Cruise from Greece’s culinary capital to its foodie fabulous islands. Indulge in vineyards, cooking classes and seafood snorkels enroute.

Ultimate Greek Odyssey

Athens to Athens. Where history began. Embrace the pace with a demure paced cruise through the greatest of Greek Islands.

Turkey Blue Coast Adventure

Gocek to Bodrum. Why swim from your beach club when you can cliff dive instead? Jump from a rope swing. Fall off a jetski. Or leap head-first down an inflatable slide.

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Prometheus I

Hospitality

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Yacht for Charter THE ADVENTURE

Yacht Charter THE ADVENTURE By Lagoon

Open Gallery

Contact Us For More Information

Electronics.

• Air Conditioning
• Special diets
• Indoor audio system
• Diving by arrangement

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• Cars, Jets & Yachts

Top 10 Explorer Yachts in the World

Exploring the seven seas on an explorer yacht is one of the most life-affirming experiences out there.

By Ellie Brade

Over the past decade, the popularity of luxury explorer yachts has soared. And with good reason — is there a better way to see the world than from the deck of your own superyacht? Exploring the seven seas while authentically connecting with their natural beauty, is undoubtedly one of the most desirable and life-affirming experiences out there. Here, Ellie Brade presents 10 of the finest explorer yachts currently available for the intrepid travelers among you.

[See more: What are Explorer Yachts?]

Builder : McConaghy Year of build : 2012 LOA : 139.7 ft Number of guests: 9 Crew : 6

There is no mistaking Adastra (pictured above) thanks to her distinctive futuristic design and trimaran hull. Adastra has more than demonstrated her explorer credentials and has traveled the world, turning heads wherever she goes. Highly fuel efficient, she has a very small eco footprint, and her stable hull ensures a comfortable ride. With a trans-Pacific range of 10,000 nm she can cross the Atlantic twice before needing to refuel. An impressively shallow draft of just four feet allows her access to cruising grounds that other explorer yachts cannot visit, meaning very few places are off limits. Her 52-ft beam provides generously proportioned spaces, including the main saloon and a shaded outdoor deck. A light-filled, modern interior ensures an inviting base to conduct adventures from and accommodations include a full-beam master cabin. Adastra’s garage door folds out to create a platform for diving, and she carries plenty of toys and tenders for getting out and enjoying the water.

[See more: Step Inside the Adastra Trimaran Yacht]

Itinerary: Raja Ampat, Indonesia

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A light-filled, modern interior ensures an inviting base to conduct adventures

Originally built for use in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Adastra is at home in Indonesia’s warm waters. The archipelago of Raja Ampat — meaning Four Kings — straddles the Equator and has over 1,500 islands and islets, which surround the four main islands of Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta and Misool. Very few explorer yachts visit here due to strict regulations, and the area is largely uninhabited, meaning you will often feel as if you have the ocean all to yourself. Crystal-clear waters, endless beaches, and a variety of dive sites and reefs are all waiting to be sampled. Adastra’s draft works to her advantage here, allowing the yacht to move easily between even the shallowest of anchorages.

Start your cruise with a visit to the paradisiacal rain forest-covered island of Kri before cruising towards Gam Island, which offers incredible diving — step straight into the water from Adastra’s dive platform. Move on to Wayag Island, where you can take kayaks into the Wayag lagoon, which is mesmerizingly blue. If you’re feeling energetic, hike inland and upwards to enjoy long views across the water. Cruise through Dampier Strait and spot hundreds of manta rays before visiting Pulau Gam to try and spot the rarely sighted red bird of paradise. Diving fans won’t want to miss traveling south and visiting Misool, which is renowned for its myriad of underwater sites. Venture into the Gua Sacral ancestral caves, which were once an indigenous burial site. Kayaking through Misool’s Blue Water Mangroves, which are peppered with reefs, will have you in awe of the natural beauty.

For sale $10m. Contact Ian Sherwood, sales broker, [email protected] , +44 207 766 4300, burgessyachts.com

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A helicopter takes off from the Octopus landing pad

Builder: Lürssen Year of build: 2003 LOA: 414 ft Number of guests: 26 Crew: 63

One of the world’s most traveled yachts, Octopus is a groundbreaking expedition vessel that set the tone for the many explorer yachts that have followed in her impressive wake. With eight decks and at a gargantuan 414 ft, it’s no surprise that Octopus is packed with feature after feature, from a full basketball court to the entertainment-focused bridge deck. Her glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge means you can watch fish and sea creatures in their natural habitat. Huge storage capacity lets her carry no less than seven tenders, two helicopters, a submersible for eight guests and two crewmembers that’s capable of diving for up to eight hours, and even a large SUV for onshore adventures. Octopus has undertaken some truly special adventures, including recovering the ship’s bell from the wreck of the HMS Hood, cruising the coast of Antarctica and discovering the wreck of the WWII battleship IJN Musashi off the Philippines. Now, her legacy can continue with a new owner, as she’s currently for sale.

[See more: The Most Expensive Yachts for Charter]

Itinerary: Patagonia

At a gargantuan 414 ft, it’s no surprise that Octopus is packed with features

The sun sets over the horizon on one of Octopus’s many decks

Often a gateway to Antarctica, Patagonia possesses an unspoilt beauty. Ripe for adventure, it offers an incredible mix of landscapes with glaciers, hot springs, mountains, remote islands, beaches and a wide variety of wildlife. Begin your journey at Puerto Montt, which ushers you into the company of the Patagonian Fjords and Andes Mountains. Make for the Corcovado Volcano and take in the awe-inspiring National Park. Explore by tender, or even take in the landscape from above in one of Octopus’s helicopters.

The waters boast a diverse ecosystem, and you are sure to spot whales as you cruise — there are many whale research programs around these waters, and the explorer yacht’s glass-bottomed lounge provides an unrivaled view into the kingdom of these giants of the sea. Make your way to the Piti Palena Fjord, located in the delta of the Palena River — this is an excellent spot for fishing. Continue onwards to the Guaitecas Archipelago, which has eight main islands and waters famed for being home to yet more whales and dolphins. North of the archipelago is one of the world’s largest nursing and feeding grounds for blue whales — a sight not to be missed.

For sale €235m (approx. $285m). Contact Matt Emerson, senior partner-director, Americas, [email protected], +1 212 223 0410, burgessyachts.com

[See also: The Best Luxury Yacht Builders in the World]

The Beast delivers adventure with a side of luxurious living / ©Aaron March

Builder: Profab Engineering Year of build: 2019 LOA: 128.7 ft Number of guests: 12 Crew : 9

With the  yacht’s camouflage exterior, The Beast’s owner describes her as “a little different.” What an understatement! Built to explore, and incredibly stable (no need for sickness pills on this one), this catamaran explorer-style yacht can tackle just about any cruising ground except Antarctica and has a long range of 5,000 nm. Thanks to her 39.4-ft beam, she has an incredible 4,000 sq ft of living space, elegantly fitted out with a modern interior. The Beast is packed with all the equipment needed for enjoying remote itineraries, not the least of which is a 42-ft custom composite fishing boat adorably dubbed The Baby Beast . An industrial-style, 49-ft aft deck is packed with water equipment that includes a custom amphibious tender for driving straight from water to land. A favorite spot is the upper deck with its teppanyaki grill and bar.

Itinerary: New Zealand

The Beast’s sunlit bridge / ©Aaron March

Often described as ‘the whole world in one country’ New Zealand packs a punch as a destination, delivering 9,300 miles of coastline, snow, rain forest, white-sand beaches and a rich local culture. As a relatively young country, New Zealand is a blend of cosmopolitan cities and wild, remote beauty that begs to be explored by superyacht.

Join The Beast in Auckland and soak up the skyline as you head for Great Barrier Island, where you can visit the Glenfern Sanctuary and learn about the country’s native birdlife. The island is a Dark Sky Sanctuary with incredible stars — learn about the significance of the stars to the local culture as you gaze up at the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds.

Head for the Poor Knights Islands, an incredible marine reserve, where you can make the most of The Beast’s diving setup, using The Baby Beast as a base for daily adventures. Continue north to the Bay of Islands, home to a cornucopia of marine life and more than 100 different islands; come ashore and explore the island of your choice on board The Beast’ s amphibious tender. Northland has great spiritual importance, so take the opportunity to learn about the local culture and experience an authentic cultural performance.

Cruise onwards towards Cape Reinga, the very tip of New Zealand where the Maori people believe that souls depart this life for the next, and watch the meeting of the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, which is an unusual and powerful sight. On the west coast, Ninety Mile Beach is a seemingly endless stretch of golden sand dunes. Away from the marine reserves, make sure to take advantage of The Beast’ s extensive fishing gear Below and right The Beast ; her sunlit bridge and land some fresh seafood to cook on her teppanyaki grill for lunch. Make your way back down the east coast, calling in at Auckland’s Waiheke Island on the way to enjoy a long vineyard lunch before reluctantly returning to civilization.

Charter from $185,000 per week. Contact Fleur Tomlinson, charter director, [email protected] , +64 930 201 78, 37, southyachts.com

[See also: How Much Does it Actually Cost to Charter a Yacht?]

Ragnar has been designed to look like an explorer yacht

Builder: Royal Niestern Sander Year of build: 2012 (rebuilt 2020) LOA: 223.8 ft Number of guests: 12 Crew: 17

There is nowhere on earth that Ragnar can’t take you, from glistening ice to remote desert islands. Named for the Norse King of the Vikings, Ragnar is a powerful and luxurious explorer yacht, with full ice-breaking functionality and an impressive 6,000 nm range. Ragnar is able to tackle all conditions, so make the most of your surroundings by taking your pick from her abundant toy and tender collection, with something to suit every type of cruising ground. These include an Airbus EC145 helicopter for heliskiing, a three-passenger submarine, snowmobiles, quad bikes, a 30-ft Marelli ice condition tender and more. Expansive onboard spaces include a top deck hot tub and pool, an observation deck, fully equipped gym and tranquil spa center for soaking away the day’s activities.

[See more: Explorer Yachts with Their Own Land-roving Vehicles]

Itinerary: The Philippines

Enjoy sunsets in far-flung locations

High-stakes hammocks aboard Ragnar

The heli-landing zone on Ragnar

Although well-equipped for colder climates, Ragnar has plenty of warm destinations in her cruising plans, and 2022 will see her visit the Philippines, which is fast gaining popularity as a desirable charter location. Why? With more than 7,000 islands it is an ideal spot for exploring by yacht. Beautiful beaches and clear waters are a given, but each different island group — Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao — has its own character.

Board the yacht in bustling capital city Manila before heading for quieter cruising grounds. As you cruise towards Palawan, the largest province in the Philippines with over 1,700 islands, stop off at the hidden gem island of Busuanga and climb the 700 steps to the top of Mount Tapyas, which delivers incredible views across the region. Busuanga offers unparalleled cruising and plenty to do on land and on the water; hike through rain forests and dive the crystal waters, which are home to several wrecks. Nearby Coron has sacred freshwater lakes that are carefully maintained by the indigenous population — take a swim beneath impressive limestone cliffs that overlook the lakes.

A must-do is a visit to Palawan’s underground river, as is a stop at Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site where you’ll be able to sample what is arguably the country’s best diving. Make your way back to Manila, island-hopping as you go, and relax on board as you admire the landscape.

Charter from $525,000 per week. Contact James Clark, head of retail charter, [email protected] , +44 207 766 4300, burgessyachts.com

Planet Nine

A helicopter takes off from Planet Nine / ©Studio_M

Builder: Admiral Year of build: 2018 LOA: 240 ft Number of guests: 12 (plus 4 staff) Crew: 20

A world-class explorer yacht, Planet Nine has a guest-centric design with edgy naval-inspired styling. She is ice-classed, allowing her to tackle polar waters, and has an MD-600N Explorer helicopter, hangar and commercial landing pad for arriving and departing in style. Abundant spaces across her five decks, which are all connected by elevator, include social areas such as the cinema room, Jacuzzi, numerous dining spaces, beach club, sea terrace and an entire owner’s deck for ultimate privacy. Three Rupert Marine RIBs are tailored for use in extreme conditions — so you can explore secluded coves or glide past ice floes while spotting local wildlife. Back on board, the observatory delivers stunning 180° views.

Itinerary: Saudi Arabia

Ample lounge space for lounging inside / ©Studio_M

Al fresco dining aboard Planet Nine / ©Studio_M

As the spiritual home and birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia is rich with history and cultural significance, and has long been a center for pilgrims. Follow in their footsteps on your own journey of discovery. Explore the exquisitely blue waters of the Red Sea, seek endless sand dunes, and immerse yourself in the bustling towns and markets. Fans of diving will delight in all the Red Sea has to offer and can make the most of Planet Nine’s extensive dive gear.

Tabuk, just 62 miles off the border with Jordan, is the start of the Saudi coast and bears Egyptian and Ottoman influences — check out some of the area’s wild beauty spots and walk in the footsteps of the prophet Moses, who lived east of the city for many years. Cruise south towards the town of Al Wajh, which has over 60 miles of untouched beaches on either side. Continuing down the coast, Umluj (called the ‘Maldives of Saudi Arabia’) has 104 islands to its north. Jump on board one of Planet Nine’s RIBs and pick out your own private island. An hour inland of Umluj takes you to Harrat Lunayyir, a black lava field filled with cones and craters.

Visit Yanbu, an ancient spice trading post that was once home to TE Lawrence. A huge desert sits north of the town and gives way to the stunning ocean — a helicopter ride over the dunes will provide an unbeatable view before you touch down back on board for an aperitif as the sun sets. Round off your charter with a visit to historic Jeddah, the gateway to Mecca and crossroad of traders and pilgrims. Marvel at the beautiful architecture, visit the local souk (maamoul, anyone?) and revel in the city’s blend of old and new.

Charter from €650,000 (approx. $791,000) per week, for sale €85m (approx. $103m). Contact Charlie Carveles, sales and charter broker, [email protected] , +377 933 054 44, edmiston.com

Latitude was built in 1973 and refitted in 2020

Builder: Hitzler Schiffswerft Year of build: 1973 (refitted 2020) LOA: 179.4 ft Number of guests: 12 Crew: 16

In beautiful condition following a mammoth two-year refit completed in June 2020, Latitude will suit outdoor enthusiasts. An expansive lineup of water toys and vast deck spaces — bigger even than yachts twice her size — will keep you outside and busy all day long. This is truly an explorer yacht for connecting with nature and discovering new and remote destinations away from the stresses of everyday life. For those looking to wind down and disconnect, she has a strong focus on wellness and relaxation with a two-tier yoga deck, private masseuse/yoga instructor and a fully equipped open-air gym. Fishing fans will particularly enjoy Latitude — her explorer qualities and hardy design can take you to remote fishing grounds where you can take your pick from her comprehensive lineup of all the latest fishing gear.

Itinerary: French Polynesia

Latitude has a strong focus on wellness and relaxation

Set in the heart of the South Pacific, French Polynesia is a picture-perfect destination that combines a friendly welcome with incredible diving, idyllic beaches and unspoilt beauty. Plus, there’s a string of islands for yacht-hopping. With Latitude planning to spend two years in the region, the explorer yacht and her crew will know all the best secret spots. Join the yacht in Moorea, which pairs volcanic mountains with sandy beaches.

Dive off the coast, where you’ll be in the company of Tahitian stingrays — this will be just the first encounter with impressive sea life during your time on Latitude . Cruise onwards to Huahine, which presents a beautiful backdrop for a morning yoga session. Come ashore and meet the locals, who will be only too happy to tell you stories of French Polynesia’s history.

Next you’ll visit Taha’a, a white-sand island dotted with thatched villas. There is colorful coral off the island’s shores — dive and explore before heading ashore by tender for a picnic and a walk in the lush jungle. Raiatea is well worth a visit; it is regarded as a central point in French Polynesia and is believed to be the source of many ancient migrations to countries such as New Zealand and Hawaii. Finish your visit in Bora Bora, an extinct volcano set amidst an achingly serene lagoon.

Bora Bora is known as one of the world’s most beautiful islands, and with good reason. The vibrant shoreline contrasts with the blue waters, which are teeming with fish, and vibrant hibiscus flowers carpet the side of Mount Otemanu. Make the most of Latitude’s water toys and spend the day in the warm water before a final wind down back on board.

Charter from $161,000 per week. Contact James Clark, head of retail charter, [email protected] , +44 207 766 4300, burgessyachts.com

Yersin is 95% recyclable

Builder: Piriou Year of build: 2015 LOA: 251.4 ft Number of guests: 18 Crew: 24

One of the world’s most sustainable and green yachts, Yersin ensures guilt-free cruising with an incredibly low cruising footprint — she is even 95% recyclable. This spectacular explorer yacht was built with science and discovery at the forefront of her design. She offers an unmatched opportunity to cruise the world and learn about its oceans firsthand. Able to travel from the Poles to the Equator, Yersin is a true explorer. There has been no compromise on comfort, and her many features include a gym, hammam, spa, cinema, dining spaces, an owner’s suite and eight guest staterooms. Thanks to her history as a luxury research vessel, her setup also includes classrooms (hello, homeschooling), laboratories, a hospital, media room and multifunction tenders. This is a unique yacht that is fully equipped to visit the most remote destinations.

[See more: Yersin: The Eco Superyacht for Sustainable Explorers]

Itinerary: Arctic Circle

The elegant interiors aboard Yersin

Impressive green credentials make Yersin the perfect vessel for exploring the pristine wilderness of the Arctic Circle. A charter aboard this luxurious yet intrepid explorer yacht showcases the region, from epic icebergs and polar bear sightings, to fjord landscapes and fine dining beneath the shimmering Northern Lights. With Greenland acting as your gateway to the Arctic Circle, step on board Yersin in the quaint settlement of Nuuk before raising anchor and cruising towards the vast Jakobshavn Glacier in Ilulissat. One of the highlights of Greenland is the ice itself, with its pure, imposing beauty, and the town of Ilulissat, meaning ‘iceberg,’ is the obvious spot for enjoying this natural wonder.

Travel further to the impressive Eqi Glacier. From here, take Yersin’s tender to enjoy a ringside seat to witness ice calving, where new icebergs are formed as fragments of the glaciers fall into the sea. Having hiked through icy landscapes, sampled the extreme sports of glacier skiing and ice diving, or immersed yourself in the rural communities of this unique region, it’s time to depart Greenland. Watch Uummannaq Mountain recede into the distance as you take the passage to Canada’s Baffin Island. It is full of marine life, so look out for whales and seals as you cruise — they swim undisturbed by the near-silent Yersin. The coastline of Baffin Island is an excellent place to spot the most iconic creature of the Arctic region, the polar bear.

Cruise up the fjords and observe these majestic animals from the comfort of the vessel’s deck or, for a closer encounter, take a private wildlife tour with a local expert. Enjoy a lunch of fish caught fresh by the crew, and after a day in the crisp polar air, warm up by enjoying a sauna in the opulent spa.

For sale from €72m (approx. $87.6m, VAT paid). Contact David Legrand, [email protected] , +377 931 004 50, and Antoine X. Larricq, [email protected] , +377 931 004 50, fraseryachts.com

Bold’s striking profile from the air / ©Guillaume Plisson

Builder: Silveryachts Year of build: 2019 LOA: 279.8 ft Number of guests: 16 Crew: 20

Designed by fabled aesthetic powerhouse Espen Øino, Bold has a naval-inspired design and is the biggest yacht built by Silveryachts to date. Described by her builders as “a fast, world explorer vessel with a genuine, fully-fledged superyacht finish,” Bold is the world’s fastest explorer yacht with an extraordinary top speed of 23 knots. Her low draft, unparalleled in other yachts of her size and length, also affords access to shallow waters. Accommodation is for 16 guests and includes the master suite with a private salon. Social spaces inside and out include large entertaining decks and a huge open plan ‘loft style’ main salon, with floor-to-ceiling windows that lead directly out to a large wintergarden. An outdoor cinema on the sundeck calls for family movie nights under the stars. Ready for adventure, Bold has a large inventory of water equipment including three different Rupert tenders. A heli-hangar and heli-landing deck allow the use of helicopters if desired.

Itinerary: The Whitsundays, Australia

Bold is set to return home to Australia this year for the first time since her launch — she is the largest Australian-built yacht in the world, and she will be available for charter all around her country of origin. Venturing around Australia’s expansive coastlines requires a yacht with serious muscle, and Bold more than fits the bill. Begin your cruise by heading to Hook Island where you can snorkel before traveling to Blue Pearl Bay for more world-class snorkeling off the back of Bold’s tender. Nearby Langford Island, home to reefs and coral, is another inviting dive spot. Spend some time relaxing on the island’s sandy beach before departing for Chance Bay, where you can hike along the Ngaro Sea Trail towards Whitehaven.

Cruise south to Lindeman Island, which has some beautiful national park walking tracks. Escape even further towards the seclusion of the southern anchorages off Thomas and Shaw islands. Here, you can take your pick from Bold’s toy garage and explore the anchorage. The explorer yacht will then make its way back towards Whitehaven Beach, which some claim is Australia’s finest. Take a walk inland through the rain forest and drink in the views across Hill Inlet before being collected by tender and whisked back to your floating home.

A visit to the Whitsundays wouldn’t be complete without a glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system — a helicopter ride will guarantee the best views.

Charter from €985,000 per week (approx. $1.2m). Contact Romina Rastelli, EU charter manager, [email protected] , +377 931 029 29, hillrobinson.com

Legend is packed with every tender and toy you can possibly imagine / ©Chistopher Scholey

Builder: Icon Yachts Year of build: 1974 (refitted 2015) LOA: 254 ft Number of guests: 22 Crew: 28

Legend is packed with every tender and toy you can possibly imagine. Carrying submersibles, dive gear, snowmobiles, tenders, diving apparatus and more, she has something to suit every climate. Legend has extensively traveled the world, visiting Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, Northern Europe and the Baltics, moving effortlessly from sun to ice. Transformed from a Soviet icebreaker in a no-expenses-spared refit, Legend offers high luxury on board with unique features such as a waterfall-fed 16-seater Jacuzzi, 14-person cinema, Balinese spa, modern gym, piano and whisky bars. Her sheer size and impressive internal volume mean that even the longest trips at sea won’t feel claustrophobic — there’s plenty of space to both gather and retreat. For serious expeditions, there is accommodation flexibility on board for up to 10 extra expedition staff. A commercial helideck and two helicopters mean it is easy to join the explorer yacht even in remote anchorages.

Itinerary: Antarctica

Legend’s main deck comes complete with Jacuzzi / ©Quinn Bisset

Journey on board Legend to Antarctica, where you’ll become one of the lucky few to have ventured 66-degrees south. Make the most of your mobile nature and get out on the water, whether kayaking through icy waters or gliding across the snow on Legend’s snowmobiles. As a Class 1 icebreaker, she can venture into pack ice sheets.

Join Legend at her anchorage off King George Island in nearby Maxwell Bay. Sail into the Bransfield Strait, passing penguins and icebergs as you go. On your first morning, a mandatory International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) briefing will outline the environmental responsibilities of visitors to Antarctica. Head for mainland Antarctica via the Gerlache Strait, spotting humpback whales along the way. The next morning, travel through the Neumayer Channel and watch calving Weddell, leopard and crabeater seals — an unforgettable sight. Legend’s crew will launch the Zodiac tender so you can cruise through brash ice for up-close encounters with local wildlife. Visit Andvord Bay to spot humpback whales and killer whale pods. Hop into the Zodiac again to visit Cuverville Island and its huge colony of Gentoo penguins. Later, drop anchor at Foyn Harbor and kayak around the wreck of the Governoren — keep an eye out for fur seals.

Cruise to Deception Island, where you can sail into the crater of a live volcano. Atmospheric whale factory ruins and the old bones of Whalers Bay hark back to the area’s past as a whaling center. Enjoy a hike up ‘The Nipple’ with views across steaming lava fields, then round off your charter with a visit to the chinstrap penguin colony on Baily Head, spotting plenty of other wildlife as you go. Disembark at Frei Station and visit the Russian Orthodox Trinity Church, where you can reflect in peace on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Charter from €490,000 (approx. $597,000) per week. Contact [email protected] , y.co

La Datcha can let charter guests “set out on the journey of a lifetime to places others can’t reach”

Builder: Damen Year of build: 2020 LOA: 252 ft Number of guests: 12 Crew: 25

One of the newest explorer yachts to hit the water, La Datcha, was designed to fulfill the owner’s brief for a yacht that could let charter guests “set out on the journey of a lifetime to places others can’t reach.” The resulting yacht delivers luxury in spades and is the ultimate crossover between comfort and performance. From her head-turning profile, care of Azure Yacht Design, to countless tenders and toys including two helicopters, snow scooters and a submersible, it is near impossible to narrow down her best features. La Datcha’s six decks boast a modern interior, and when hanging out on board you’ll have plenty of options — head to the luxury spa to unwind or relax after a day of exploring in the observation lounge. Two master cabins make her ideal for two families to share her unforgettable experiences. Able to operate autonomously at sea for up to 40 days, the world is her oyster.

Itinerary: Kamchatka, Russia

La Datcha’s striking profile from above

Dramatically dubbed Russia’s ‘Land of Ice and Fire,’ the Kamchatka Peninsula lies in eastern Russia and stretches over 740 miles. With glaciers, geysers, snow and over 300 volcanoes, Kamchatka’s landscape is like nowhere else on earth. There is plenty of wildlife to spot, including the Kamchatka brown bear. Start your charter in the peninsula’s capital city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which is surrounded by three snow-capped volcanoes. Settle in on board, then fly to a nearby mountain top to ski a run or two. Cruise the fjords to reach Vilyuchinskaya Bay and fish abundant waters, whale watch or heli-ski. Enjoy incredible views from the top of the Vilyuchinsky Volcano before heading south towards Russkaya Bay. Take a helicopter flight over the Mutnovsky and Goreliy volcanoes; the brave can ski into the crater of the Mutnovsky volcano, which is home to a hidden glacier.

Back on board, your crew will take you by tender to spot Steller sea lions and sea otters. Cruise north to Cape Shipunsky and Bechevinskaya Bay, once a top-secret submarine base, and enjoy heli-skiing en route. Visit the ‘Valley of Geysers’ in the heart of Kamachatka — this spectacular Unesco World Heritage Site is home to a number of volcanoes including Karymsky, one of the most active in the world. Next, visit Klyuchevskaya Sopka and Morzhovaya Bay, home to yet more spectacular volcanoes. Round off your visit by heli-skiing on Zhupanovsky Volcano before relaxing at the Nalychevo Nature Park. Here, you can bathe in wild springs and hot thermal pools with a chilled glass of champagne in hand.

Charter from€740,000 (approx. $900,500) per week. Contact Stefano Feltrin, managing director, [email protected] , +39 349 858 2600, ladatcha.com

[See more: Luxury Yacht Itineraries to Suit Any Occasion]

Ellie Brade

Latest in luxury, the explorer.

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Explorer Yachts For Sale

Adventurous yacht owners eventually tire of the popular Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising grounds and start looking for more challenging cruising areas. This explains the growing popularity of long-range expedition yachts with vast storage capacity for food, fuel and water, enabling them to roam the world’s oceans for weeks at a time. Here we present examples of world-girdling explorer yachts currently for sale.

Yacht Features

Propulsion System

• My Cheoy Lee
• Explorer Series

• The Shipyard
• Engineering & Construction
• Service & Warranty

Built for Adventure: Everything You Need to Know About Today’s Explorer Yachts

What is an expedition or explorer yacht .

Most yachts are designed to cruise inland and coastal waterways but in reality, very few are built to voyage the world’s oceans. It is only these bluewater vessels, known as explorer or expedition yachts, that can take you on adventures to the most remote, spectacular, and pristine corners of the globe.

A few decades back, these long-range motoryachts were called “ trawlers ” after the commercial fishing trawlers they often resembled, topped by enclosed pilothouses that frequently featured reverse-slanted, “ North Sea ” windshields. But over the years, the trawler yacht category became crowded with “wannabe” boats that only looked like their rugged offshore counterparts. In reality, many of them were unable to venture very far from the coast.

Enter the true explorer yacht – a vessel that is purpose-built to be seaworthy and self-sufficient enough to serve as a luxury platform for oceangoing expeditions that are virtually without limits.

“ The whole idea of an expedition yacht is how the owner intends to use his or her boat. We are working on the first Cheoy Lee 107 Explorer project now. It’s a boat capable of going practically anywhere in the world ,” said Jon Overing of Overing Yacht Design , the naval architect who collaborated with Cheoy Lee Yachts on its new Explorer Series .

“ The whole idea of an expedition yacht is how the owner intends to use his or her boat. We are working on the first Cheoy Lee 107 Explorer project now. It’s a boat capable of going practically anywhere in the world ”

What gives an expedition yacht “go-anywhere” capability?

It’s not just one single aspect of the vessel’s design, construction, or outfitting. With the world’s best explorer yachts, it’s the entire package.

“ I think any viable explorer yacht has be based on a full-displacement hull. That type of hull makes a better sea boat than a semi-displacement or planing hull … Full displacement hulls also inherently have more volume, and you need more volume to fit the mission profile for an expedition yacht. ”

Rugged and reliable:

What to look for in explorer yacht design and construction, full-displacement hull.

Sufficient speed

Historically, full-displacement vessels tended to be slow through the water, making up in seaworthiness what they lacked in speed. “ The image in everyone’s mind was a 10-knot boat, but it doesn’t have to be that way ,” Overing said. Today’s full-displacement hull designs, notably our fast-displacement hullform that Overing has developed for the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series .  Overing’s fast-displacement hull combines superior seakeeping, optimum range and efficiency at 9 to 10 knots with the capability of running over 14 knots if needed to avoid a storm or make up time in a tight itinerary. With a speed/length ratio of 1.6 – 1.7, the Overing fast-displacement hulls are capable of well exceeding theoretical hull speed allowing higher speeds if the owner chooses the higher horsepower options.

Bulbous bow

Seaworthiness

Practical profile.

Take the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series , for example. These multi-deck yachts sport graceful superstructures that are skillfully wrought in aluminum by Cheoy Lee Shipyard artisans . They feature spacious on-deck gathering areas, including flybridge, bridge and lower aft deck lounges, designed for sunbathing, dining and entertaining. They even boast aft beach clubs that are ideal for launching myriad watersports adventures.

“The exterior styling of an explorer yacht doesn’t have to look like a tugboat. It can be modern, classic, traditional – however you want,”

At the same time, however, expedition yacht design should address the long, rough passages the yacht will frequently face. Typically, these yachts have high bulwarks, full pilothouses and Portuguese bridges designed to protect the yacht from seas breaking on deck. The new Cheoy Lee Explorer 132 , which features an aft-pilothouse design is an excellent example of form following function while still displaying an eye-catching profile.

High-tech construction.

Classification.

“ It’s another system of checks and balances you are bringing into the project. I view it as an insurance policy for the owner ,” Overing said, adding, “ If you are building a good boat to begin with, there’s not a lot of cost difference in building it to class. ” Cheoy Lee Explorer Yachts are available built to Lloyd’s ✠ 100A1 SSC Yacht Mono G6 classification.

Fuel tankage.

Commercial-grade equipment.

Maximized storage..

Well-laid-out crew areas.

Bespoke owner/guest accommodations.

Satellite communications.

Tenders & toys., have it your way:, building a new explorer yacht.

There are pre-owned expedition yachts on the market today that come in all makes, models, sizes, vintages, and levels of bluewater capability. An owner who elects to purchase a brokerage boat is best advised to develop a mission profile for his or her desired vessel in advance and then choose the boat that ticks off the most boxes on that list. How far do you want to go? How many guests do you want to bring with you? It’s important to determine all your desires and needs before you start shopping for a yacht.

“ It’s always a compromise with a pre-owned explorer yacht. It’s someone else’s design for another owner ,” said Panu Virtanen, vice president – sales, Cheoy Lee Shipyard North America. He added, “ Who built it and how was it built? Does it have maintenance issues? It’s important to find out. ”

Use a surveyor with a proven track record to determine whether there are any hidden problems with the pre-owned yacht. And if you decide to go ahead with the purchase, many brokers recommend keeping a budget in reserve to refit the vessel. You may need to update the electronics and stabilizers, and you probably will want to change at least some of the furnishings and the soft goods. The yacht also may need its classification certificate renewed. “ That can be an expensive process ,” Virtanen cautioned.

Building a new explorer yacht with a reputable shipyard, on the other hand, will ensure you get the vessel that fulfills your individual dreams for global exploration. “ You can get exactly what you want ,” he said.

The shipyard can help you to put together a team dedicated to designing the best expedition boat for your mission profile, including members of the shipyard’s management, design and engineering teams, the yacht’s naval architect and interior designer, along with your captain, yacht broker, and yacht management company, if you so desire. This “ dream team ” will be dedicated to creating an explorer yacht that is unique to you.

“There is no ‘perfect boat’, but when you build one, you can come extremely close to getting the explorer yacht that is perfect for you”

Do you want a main-deck master suite with panoramic views so you can see spectacular scenery you when you wake up each morning? Do you want to be able to cook breakfast for your family yourself in an eat-in galley on a sunny Sunday morning? Would you like to be able to soak in a Jacuzzi on the flybridge, watch a film on the foredeck, or fish from the aft deck? Or do you fancy a beach club where you can lounge virtually at eye level with the sea, hop onto a Jet Ski whenever the mood strikes you, and enjoy a cocktail while your yacht’s underwater lights attract an “ aquarium ” full of exotic fish? “ There is no ‘perfect boat ’, but when you build one, you can come extremely close to getting the explorer yacht that is perfect for you ,” Virtanen said.

Who builds the best explorer yachts?

If you plan to build a new explorer yacht, it’s important to consider working with a shipyard that has a commercial shipbuilding pedigree in addition to a proven reputation for launching high-quality luxury yachts. Longevity, integrity, and family are key factors behind a successful shipyard. Few shipyards around the globe can boast more than 150 years of experience under continuous operation by the same family, like Cheoy Lee.

“ Cheoy Lee Shipyard has 150 years of experience in building commercial vessels that operate 24/7 in demanding conditions. That is the philosophy of the commercial side of the company, and it carries over to all the explorer yachts that we build as well. ”

It’s also important to research other expedition yachts the shipyard has launched in the past. Have they won awards and voyaged 200,000 nautical miles through most of the world’s oceans in a decade, like the 146’7” Cheoy Lee expedition yacht Dorothea III ?

“If you plan to voyage far, you need to be able to rely on your yacht in any conditions anywhere in the world. That experience is what you look for in a shipyard when you are building a true expedition yacht.”

“ Cheoy Lee Shipyard has 150 years of experience in building commercial vessels that operate 24/7 in demanding conditions. That is the philosophy of the commercial side of the company, and it carries over to all the explorer yachts that we build as well ,” Virtanen said. “ If you plan to voyage far, you need to be able to rely on your yacht in any conditions anywhere in the world. That experience is what you look for in a shipyard when you are building a true expedition yacht .”

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Adventure Yachts 55

• Toby Hodges
• June 1, 2016

This Swedish company offers a new concept of an aluminium hull with bespoke interior. Does it work? asks Toby Hodges

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

Buying a new yacht? Generally, you have the choice of a production boat or going the more adventurous custom route. For a superyacht you might employ a project manager to help you through from design to build, to fit-out and trials. At the less fanciful end of the scale it’s more a case of finding a design you like within your budget from a production yard, or braving the bespoke route alone if you can’t.

Adventure Yachts brings some of that big boat mentality to a smaller scale. It’s a new business that neatly fills that grey area between production and full custom builds, by project managing builds using select specialist subcontractors. And it has started by building an enticing 55-footer.

This yacht was nominated for European Yacht of the Year 2016 – see details here

Intrigued? We certainly were when we had the chance to sail her from La Rochelle.

The 55 is a bare aluminium cruiser that is built and fitted out by various specialist yards under the management of Adventure Yachts. The result is a quality bluewater yacht with a bespoke interior.

Photos: Bertel Kolthof

The concept is the brainchild of Swedish sailor Bo Gummeson, who has a business history in mechanical components and hydraulics. Initially Gummeson planned to build a yacht for him and his wife. “But then I thought it would be more interesting to find a market for this idea,” he says.

The hull was welded and insulated in Germany, where the machinery was also installed. It was then trucked to Sweden for fit-out at Orust Yacht Service (OYS), which owns the former Najad shipyard.

The reason to subcontract to multiple yards is that Gummeson believes that no single company can be specialised enough in all areas.

“We started with what we wanted in an aluminium cruiser,” Gummeson explains. “She had to be fast, with a deep, lifting keel, with Delta lines and a long waterline length.”

He also wanted low maintenance, and for that, aluminium is king.

Luxury in metal

It seems bare aluminium is back in vogue. Some of the most desirable new bluewater cruisers are aluminium and I have often been surprised that more bluewater cruisers don’t choose metal yachts – although the imminent launch of the new Bestevaer Pure 45, plus Garcia’s expanding Exploration range will offer greater choice in this material.

Aluminium is light, strong and corrosion proof (when correctly treated); it requires no maintenance and, unlike glassfibre and resin, it is recyclable. Aluminium hulls are formidably durable. They also provide a comparatively unrestricted shell into which to design your choice of internal layout.

Gummeson stresses that the boat is largely customisable. “The cockpit, superstructure, transom and keel are some examples where we are able to change the outer design. The inner design is only limited by the watertight bulkheads forward and aft.”

The AY55 costs €1.8m inc VAT (£1.4m) – which Gummeson says is pitched at the same price range as the Najad 570 and fitted out at the same shipyard. “But we have included everything,” he adds. It is, however, hard to compare prices when you consider the after-sales service and resale value.

Berckemeyer Yacht Design’s Martin Menzner did the naval architecture for the concept. The hull has an appealing, long, low, modern shape, with beamy aft chined sections and a powerful sailplan.

The inherent stability of this shape is further bolstered by a deep telescopic T-keel – somewhat of a novelty for a bluewater aluminium cruiser, the majority of which have swing keels. Plus her substantial two 1,100lt freshwater tanks can also be used as water ballast.

The need for speed

“For me it was very important to have a good sailing boat, with a fast hull,” explains Gummeson. This focus on performance goes some way to explaining the generous sailplan, which includes a square-top main and laminate sails.

These carbon tape-on-Spectra UK Sails have double taffeta skins to make them more durable, creating a performance cruising suit that “will last eight to ten years,” according to the UK Sails rep.

I was taken by the rig, which is designed and set up like an Open-style racer. So the mast is positioned relatively far aft, creating a powerful area for the non-overlapping cutter foresails, and it is easy to change through the gears from the cockpit while short-handed.

This mainsail provides power up high, which helped her match the light winds we experienced, while the single-line reefing system, combined with efficient running backstays, makes it easy to depower. The genoa and self-tacking jib are on furlers and a large bowsprit aids the setting of flying sails. It’s a superb set-up for enjoying and maximising sailing time when short-handed.

We may not have had the conditions to test the bulletproof potential her raw looks suggest, but the gentle Force 3 was ideal for showing off this performance aspect of her rig and sails.

We were able to maintain 6 knots both upwind and down, the latter reaching with the aid of a generous asymmetric kite in just six knots of dying breeze.

Axel Nissen-Lie, a European Yacht of the Year colleague and editor of Seilas magazine in Norway, sailed the AY55 for 150 miles from Orust to Oslo and confirmed my opinion that she sails more like a performance yacht than a bluewater cruiser. He averaged 9.2 knots over a 50-mile reach. “I have sailed many boats built for long trips, but none has impressed me as much under sail,” he told me.

Nissen-Lie says she can be heavy on the helm when powered up. Equally, during the light conditions we experienced, there was little sensation through the chain steering – perhaps not surprising when you consider the sizeable twin rudders that are designed to help take the load if she is beached.

The cockpit is particularly well laid out for short-handed sailing, with sheets, halyards and running backstays led to six powered winches within reach of the wheels. These electric hydraulic Andersen winches have proportional control. This means they are torque-sensitive to the touch, allowing for instant full power or gradual winding speed.

Hot on hydraulics

Gummeson worked for a hydraulics company for eight years, hence commercial spec hydraulic systems are employed throughout, including for the keel, windlasses, winches, vang and furlers. “There are too many bad solutions in the marine market, so I wanted to do it properly,” Gummeson explains.

All these hydraulic demands are power-hungry though – the AY55 has a 4x4kW 24V Powerpack motor, plus genset, inverter and 720ah of AGM house batteries.

The forward end of the cockpit provides good protection thanks to a combination of deep benches, a fixed windscreen and a sprayhood supported by the mainsheet arch. The arch keeps the mainsheet clear of the cockpit and yet provides standing headroom in the cockpit. The cockpit sole is lined with cork, which felt comfortable underfoot, looked smart and had no stains.

The side decks are wide, the guardrails extra high and there are chunky toerails. Gummeson has employed a neat solution on the inside edge of the bulwarks – Ronstan tracks allow harness lines to be clipped onto cars and slide freely from bow to stern.

The hydraulically operated door to the tender garage, with substantial rubber gasket, is a telling sign of how solidly the AY55 is built. It even has cleats on the outboard end for tying the dinghy to. The volume here is enough for a 3.10m RIB with a 9.9hp outboard mounted. Gummeson admits that they “built a 40ft boat on a 55ft hull”.

Swedish comforts

The quality mahogany interior of the AY55 is reminiscent of Najad, which is not surprising when you remember it is fitted out by the same yard. “We decided to make this very much like a Najad because that’s the best level of interior you can get,” Gummeson explains. “But you can obviously have it as minimal as you like.”

The raised saloon and two-cabin layout, designed for two liveaboards, feels generous in size, including a coachroof providing plenty of natural light. Instead of a second aft cabin, for example, there is a full workshop abaft the passageway galley, plus an office and a laundry forward. But with the ends surrendered to tender and sail stowage, the internal volume does feel compressed.

Future owners have the scope to change the layout completely. Adventure training types might prefer a series of bunk cabins forward, for instance. Certainly a Pullman cabin in place of the office, with a chart table within reach of the companionway, might have more universal appeal.

The box for the lifting keel is concealed neatly at the forward end of the saloon. The saloon is compact, however, and the sole too low to see out of the coachroof windows. Again this is a matter of individual choice.

“We tried to keep easy access to everything,” says Gummeson. He pressed a button and the saloon floor rose like the bonnet of a pimped-up muscle car to reveal the engine. Once Gummeson decided on an air compressor to lift the large flat-screen TV, he used pneumatic cylinders for a range of pushbutton trickery aboard, including for the companionway hatch and ballast valve. Even the office chair swings out to the pleasant ‘psssht’ sound of forced air.

Other than easing the manual workload, an air compressor can be useful aboard for inflating the dinghy, paddleboards, fenders and even to provide air to dive with under the hull – although a pneumatically controlled chair is perhaps over the top.

Back to the engine, which is mounted centrally for optimum weight distribution and, thanks to the lifting floorboards, has all-round access. The rest of the machinery, including genset and banks of electronics, is meticulously installed in the aft workroom – as well as a proper workbench with vice and a view through the hull window.

Specifications

LOA 16.75m/54ft 11in

LWL 15.90m/52ft 2in

Beam (max) 4.80m/15ft 9in

Draught 3.05m-1.40m/10ft-4ft 7in

Disp (lightship) 20,000kg/44,092lb

Sail area (100% foretriangle) 152m 2 /1,145ft 2

Engine Yanmar 100hp shaftdrive

Water 2,200lt/484gal

Fuel 1,200lt/264gal

Sail area:disp 23.0

Disp:LWL 121

Price ex VAT €1m (£778,010)

Price as tested €1.5m (£1,167,000)

Design Bo Gummeson/Berckemeyer Yacht Design

www.adventureyachts.se

The AY55 is a fusion of different boatbuilding worlds: production and custom yachts; bluewater and performance cruising; a stark metal hull with Swedish refined interior. It’s a clever business concept and a clever boat. Some might argue it feels a bit too clever, somewhat OTT in some of the hydraulic and pneumatic systems – more like a showboat in fact, but then I guess that is what it is.

The performance hull design and rig are superb. Her fit-out could be lighter, but she is still around six tonnes lighter than a similar-sized Hallberg-Rassy or Najad and has much larger tanks. The large tender garage perhaps monopolises too much interior volume in this version.

But I really like it – for its individuality, its inclusion of different ideas, from pneumatic solutions to safety rails, to the protected cork-soled cockpit. As Bo Gummeson says: “The fun stuff is to design and build it… this is the small superyacht way of doing things.”

The question is, will others share his vision or would they rather do a custom job themselves? At least they now have the choice, the ideal platform, a proven boat that they can see and touch, before deciding on a bespoke interior built by Swedish masters of their craft.

This is an adventurous yacht indeed.

+1 813 314 7947 USA: 8am to 8pm EST Europe: 8am to 8pm CET

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THE ADVENTURE

The adventure yacht charter, the adventure yacht description.

Introduced by DMA Yachting, the impressive charter yacht THE ADVENTURE is a 48 ft sailing catamaran. The key elements of THE ADVENTURE are her impeccable styling and interconnection with the sea. THE ADVENTURE spends the summer and winter season in British Virgin Islands. She was delivered by the renowned boatbuilder Lagoon in 2020. An elegant refit was fulfilled in 2023. The well-planned yacht layout features 5 generous cabins and easily accommodates a maximum of 10 guests.

THE ADVENTURE is offered primarily as a sailing catamaran. The the core layout is spread out from the main saloon, which connects to the aft deck. The aft deck features a variety of seating areas and that's where most of the delicious meals are served. The tasteful cabins are located below the main saloon, connected by stairs (inquire about handicapped access). The cabins offer designer mattrace beds and feature ensuite bathrooms. Multiple portholes supply a sunny feeling, with the option for darkness and privacy.

and a generator.

What is the cabin arrangement of THE ADVENTURE?

• 3 VIP cabins
• 1 Double cabin

Weekly price: $22,000 - $25,000

Low Season | High Season

• Length: 50'
• # of Guests: 8
• # of Cabins: 4
• # of Crew: 2
• Builder: Lagoon
• Built Year: 2020
• Refit: 2023

THE ADVENTURE Charter Price Details

THE ADVENTURE Yacht Charter Price

All prices are generated by a calculator and serve as a guide for new charterers. Any additional information of the Price Details section has priority over above. Availability is always subject to confirmation. Gratuity not included for it's discretionary character, usually 5%-25% of the Base Price.

Price Details

Price from: $22,000

High season rate: $25,000

CHRISTMAS week: up to 8 guests $31,000 NEW YEARS week: up to 8 guests, $32,000 - May not start prior to 12/27. HALF-BOARD OPTION: Includes 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners, happy hour canapes, standard ships bar and snacks. Other meals ashore at client expense. minus $150 per person. SLEEP ABOARD: Available for half of the daily rate. Includes boarding after 5pm, snacks, welcome cocktails & continental breakfast. Dinner ashore that night at guests' expense. MINIMUM NIGHTS: 5, please inquire for less This vessel is BVI-based & legal to conduct charters in the BVICHRISTMAS week: up to 8 guests $31,000 NEW YEARS week: up to 8 guests, $32,000 - May not start prior to 12/27. HALF-BOARD OPTION: Includes 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners, happy hour canapes, standard ships bar and snacks. Other meals ashore at client expense. minus $150 per person. SLEEP ABOARD: Available for half of the daily rate. Includes boarding after 5pm, snacks, welcome cocktails & continental breakfast. Dinner ashore that night at guests' expense. MINIMUM NIGHTS: 5, please inquire for less This vessel is BVI-based & legal to conduct charters in the BVI

Price Terms

THE ADVENTURE Yacht Charter Locations

Summer season.

Caribbean Virgin Islands (BVI)

Winter season, specifications.

More Specifications

Diving yacht offers rendezvous diving only, green initiatives.

Water Sports

Crew information.

Captain: TBA

Breakfast Quesadillas filled with scrambled egg, bacon and cheese 

Blueberry muffins and whipped cream 

Shakshuka (eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, and garlic, spiced with paprika) served with lightly toasted bread 

Breakfast stuffed pita bread filled with bacon and egg 

Crepes with fruit compote and syrup 

Omelet with cheese and tomato and ham. Served with a side of pan fried potatoes 

Breakfast bagels with: cream cheese, cucumber and toasted sesame seeds 

Bacon and egg 

Traditional breakfast - Fried eggs, crispy bacon, fried tomato, baked beans and toast 

A grazing board ( a variety of snacks to be shared amounts guests) - cheese quesadillas, hummus, crackers, cucumber and cream cheese roll ups, olives, cheese. 

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio - a delicious cold pasta made with olive oil, garlic, chili flakes and fresh basil/ parsley 

Mediterranean quesadilla 

Gourmet grilled 3 cheese sandwich. Optional add on: pesto, tomato, ham or onion and served with a side salad 

Honey mustard chicken and fresh salad wrap 

Crispy chicken burger with garlic mayonnaise and cheese with a side salad. 

Slow cooked pulled pork pita pockets with coleslaw 

Homemade Mediterranean focaccia break topped with cheese, olives, onion and fresh herbs 

Fresh grilled fish or chicken salad 

Slow cooked pulled pork served with spiced rice , Asian coleslaw and roasted butternut and potato. 

Slow roasted rosemary and red wine lamb, honey glazed carrots, mashed garlic butter potatoes and roast vegetables 

Coconut crusted mahi mahi (or catch of the day) served with roast potatoes and tropical salsa or side salad 

Grilled steak with roast veg, Mexican coleslaw and focaccia bread   

Butter chicken curry with turmeric rice and garlic bread (vegetarian option available) 

Homemade beef burgers with cheese and caramelized onion. Served with a side of salad or roast potatoes. 

Poke Bowls served with fresh herbs, roasted chickpeas, cucumber, tomato salsa, avocado, thin sliced cabbage, toasted sesame seeds. Topped with garlic shrimp (vegetarian option available) 

Chocolate brownies and ice cream or fresh cream. 

French vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting 

Upside down pineapple cake squares topped with condensed milk and toasted coconut flakes 

Italian lemon pound cake with cream cheese drizzle 

Carrot cake with cream cheese and lemon frosting. 

Price Terms: Inclusive

Price from $22,000/week

High season $25,000/week

Yachts are usually 80% booked for the main season. If you are considering a charter in this time period, inquire now!

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The Luxury Yacht Charter Fleet

We are the world's leading luxury yacht charter comparison site, view the entire market to find your ideal yacht for your fully crewed private yachting vacation..

We have searched everywhere to find all crewed rental yachts - so you don't need to. Compare the market using our powerful search engine tools to view all superyachts & megayachts as well as catamarans and luxury gulets available to rent around the globe.

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Why Charter a Yacht?

From the moment you step on board a luxury yacht charter, your world is opened to the ultimate in luxury, privacy and freedom. Unlike the restrictions of a cruise ship itinerary or the inconvenience of busy hotels and restaurants, superyacht charters offer a sense of freedom and flexibility that is truly unrivalled. Tailored to the needs and desires of you and your guests, with a professional crew dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience, you are free to immerse yourself in the luxury and relaxation of fabulous accommodation, breathtaking views, gourmet cuisine and endless activities, all enveloped by the vitality of life at sea.

The comfort and opulence that accommodation on a superyacht can have to offer rivals that of the best hotels in the world, with the added element of 24 hours a day personalised service. Each individual charter yacht is different and offers a wide range of amenities onboard. From movie theatres, spas and private beachclubs to jet skis and scuba diving equipment, along with an experienced crew that could include anyone from award-winning Chefs to qualified beauty therapists, there is the perfect excuse to indulge or try something new. No-where else in the world can you experience watching a multi-coloured sunset from a top-deck Jacuzzi in the tranquillity of the vast, open ocean before enjoying al-fresco dining with your family and friends under an endless star-strewn night sky.

Whether you're a true sailing enthusiast looking for maritime adventure or just looking for a luxurious and comfortable vacation that caters to the needs of all your family and friends, a luxury yacht charter offers something for everyone with limitless possibilities.

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Adventure 40

Attainable Adventure Cruising

• The Return of The Adventure 40

I am super excited to reveal that we have been approached by a team who are interested in making the Adventure 40 a real boat we can buy.

For those of you who were not readers from 2012 to 2016, the Adventure 40 is a project here at AAC to specify and then encourage the building of a simple, fast and reliable offshore cruising boat that could be bought brand new and ready to sail around the world for US$200,000 (2012 Dollars).

We have 16 articles that I wrote over the following four years defining the concept and boat. To really understand what a cool boat this will be you need to read the lot in sequence , but you can get a quick overview by reading the articles I have linked to in Further Reading.

There Is A Market

This is clearly an idea that has legs since by the time we were four years into it we had over 350 people who had registered as interested in the Adventure 40 and about ten who said they were ready to put a deposit on one of the first batch of boats.

The Problem

Sadly, the project went into hiatus when the two guys who took it on did not deliver on their promises.

And that’s where things have been for the last 5 years.

But a couple of months ago I got an email from Pascal Binet and Maxime Gérardin, both from France, together with a plan to get the Adventure 40 built in their home country, a location that makes a lot of sense to me since French boatbuilders have long been the masters of building boats in a cost-efficient way.

A Great Place To Build

And, yes, I’m aware that most of those boats are the absolute antithesis of the Adventure 40 concept, but that’s simply a function of those builders being smart enough to supply the market with what it wants, rather than what it actually needs to go offshore cruising—never blame a manufacturer for fulfilling the desires of buyers.

Or, to put it more positively, I’m sure that if we resurrect the informed market for the real offshore cruising boat that we created five years ago here at AAC, there are several existing boatbuilders in France capable of producing that boat with high and consistent quality.

Prioritize What Matters

To do that we have to show those builders that we buyers would rather have, for example, a keel-to-hull joint that will withstand a full-speed grounding, than twin wheels and rudders.

This is the key to hitting the price point and not sacrificing quality in the process. For example, the numbers we did showed that the savings gained from a tiller rather than twin wheels would fund said keel joint and a massively strong single rudder, with money left over—quality is about smart prioritization, not throwing money at the problem.

Maxime, at 32, is the ideal age to bring a combination of energy and experience to bear on the project. He also gained his sailing experience in the same club and sailing school environment that Pascal operates in.

Maxime also has a young family and so can add that perspective as well. And he is a potential buyer of one of the first boats.

Both Pascal and Maxime are engineering trained (not sure of their professional designations in France) and both have deep project management experience. Better yet, they blend those professional qualifications with a lot of sailing experience.

Even better, much (most?) of that experience is within the French club and sailing school culture that emphasizes good training and cooperative use of resources much more than the more individual ownership culture prevalent here in North America.

Update March 2022

Pascal has bow left the project.

Here’s Maxime on what happened:

Pascal and I worked hard together to launch the French part of the Adventure 40 project, and, among many other things, were together in choosing Vincent as designer. However, on the way to taking the project further, our views on priorities and on several decisions diverged (for instance, on taking on the personal risk of guaranteeing the design fee), to the point where I eventually called it a breakup. This doesn’t take away from the many things that Pascal has done for the Adventure 40 .

I never met Pascal, but I enjoyed our communications and will be forever grateful to him for being part of the French team who resurrected the project.

Credibility

One thing that really impressed me is that Pascal and Maxime’s first approach to me included a written plan. And since then they have updated and expanded said plan, including adding milestones, without any prodding from me. A sure sign of people who get stuff done. Not surprising since both guys have professional track records of completed projects.

A Great Time

Of course, no matter how ideal Pascal and Maxime are for the project, that does not necessarily guarantee success, but one thing I can tell you for sure, based on Phyllis’ and my recent efforts to find a good-quality fun 40-foot boat to replace our McCurdy and Rhodes 56, there has never been a better time to do this.

There have never been many decent ready-to-go offshore boats around, but now, after the COVID-induced buying frenzy of the last year (didn’t see that one coming), there is pretty much nothing left except very expensive boats, or basket cases that will break their new owners’ hearts and wallets long before they go anywhere.

Competitive With Refits

Talking of that, the refit budget work Colin and I did last year showed clearly that the idea of buying an old boat and fixing it for peanuts to be safe and comfortable for offshore cruising is in most cases a pipe dream.

So even if the eventual price of the A40 must be more than the original target of US$200,00—some increase will clearly be required just to take the inflation of the last 9 years into account—she will still be for many people a better alternative that refitting an old boat.

And one thing COVID has taught all of us is that life is uncertain and short, so grasp it with both hands—do you want to grind fibreglass or go voyaging?

What If Still Too Much Money?

The other cool thing is that even for those who can’t afford a new Adventure 40—while much less expensive than most new boats, it’s still a lot of money—there are still benefits just because the boat exists:

• Will take the pressure off the secondhand market for decent refit candidates.
• Will in time result in a pool of relatively new secondhand Adventure 40s for sale.

Shared Ownership

I can also see that this project can, and should, result in fleets of shared-use Adventure 40s (very much the European model that Pascal and Maxime sail in) available to enjoy for a small fraction of the cost of individual ownership.

Low Cost Of Ownership

Also, the cost of ownership on the Adventure 40 will be way lower than most refitted boats because Adventure 40s, if we do this right, will both hold their value and cost less to maintain.

The Strategy

Pascal and Maxime’s strategy is to act as facilitators to bring together all the parts—design, building, marketing—using existing resources in Europe, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel by setting up a new builder. Makes a lot of sense to me.

As with the original Adventure 40, Pascal and Maxime’s intent is to solicit input from AAC members as the boat is specified.

That said, it’s important to understand that the Adventure 40 was never a crowd-sourced boat and is not intended to be one now, but rather a wholesome boat that started out as a distillation of my offshore voyaging experience, and then was, and will continue to be, tested with the crowd and improved with suggestions that are consistent with the core concepts.

After the initial specification and consultation with AAC members, scheduled to be completed by late summer 2021, the project will progress through four more phases. I will let Pascal and Maxime tell you about them (lightly edited):

Phase 2 – Preliminary design of the boat

A preliminary design is necessary to know more about the demand for the Adventure 40. We don’t need the complete architectural study at this point, but we do need a preliminary study: hull, deck and rig plans, weight distribution, keel, engine and rudder configuration, and interior layout. Hence an architect will be chosen, to whom a preliminary study will be ordered. The financing of this study will have to be defined.

Phase 2 is complete when we have a preliminary design (v2) that is consistent, well-explained, well-illustrated, and, above all, true to Specifications V1.x.

Phase 3 – Finalization of the design of the boat and the entire project 

Phase 3 is the most crucial for the success of the project. We will:

• determine the number of boats to be built per year,
• have the detailed plans (V3.0) drawn by the architect, and certificated (CE marking),
• decide our strategy regarding “testing and adjusting” : what is tested then frozen from V3 on, and what can be adjusted after the first boat,
• finalize the choice of the shipyard and the organization,
• decide on the selling price.

Phase 4 –  Deploying the human, technical and financial resources

Phase 4 will involve the large monetary investments:

• preparing the shipyard and its tools,
• building the molds,
• building boat #1 (A40 V4.0), and verifying the interior arrangement in the process,
• test-sailing boat #1.

Phase 5 – Production

Then the serial building will start.

There you have it, a credible plan to make the Adventure 40 real from two guys who have ideal experience, both sailing and professional.

This is exactly what I hoped would happen all along: that someone would understand the potential of the Adventure 40 project and take the first steps without me having to “sell” them on the idea.

Will the Adventure 40 become a real boat now? That’s mostly up to us (the market) to show we are smart enough to turn our backs on cheaply built marina queens and embrace a real offshore boat at a fair price.

Further Reading

• The whole story of the Adventure 40 .
• The article that started it all
• A short overview of the boat
• The Adventure 40 Core Principles
• Reality about refits

So if you are interested in buying an Adventure 40, please sign up on the form below to receive future updates on the boat.

We will only send you emails that are relevant to the Adventure 40.

If you have questions or thoughts, please leave a comment . I will be available as usual and Maxime will be available every few days (he has a demanding “real” job) to answer questions.

Please Share a Link:

More Articles From Adventure 40:

• Reliability And Quality
• Twenty Two Adventure 40 Core Principles
• Adventure 40 FAQ—The Boat
• How We Will Build The A40 At A Great Price AND Deliver Great Quality
• Adventure 40—Introduction to the Specification
• Adventure 40 Dimensions and Hull
• Adventure 40 Rudder and Steering Gear
• Adventure 40 Keel—Draft and Shape
• Adventure 40 Keel—Strength and Grounding Resistance
• Adventure 40 Rig
• Adventure 40 Reveal—Hull, Cockpit, and Rig
• Adventure 40 Cockpit 2.0
• Adventure 40 Reveal—On Deck
• Adventure 40 Deck-2.0
• Adventure 40 Reveal—Galley, Head, and Aft Storage
• Adventure 40 Reveal—Salon and Forward Cabin
• Adventure 40 Design Funding Round
• Adventure 40—Engine and Drive Train
• Adventure 40 Electrical System—Part 1, Voltage and Batteries
• Adventure 40 June 2023 Progress Report
• Unbundling The Adventure 40
• Designer Chosen For The Adventure 40
• A Model T Offshore Voyaging Boat
• Adventure 40 Swag Now Available
• Adventure 40 December 2023 Progress Report

Hi John, this is great news!!!

Quick bug report: on my iPhone, I tried submitting my email address to the enbedded form but was unable to type anything in. (The name fields worked fine.)

Feel free to delete this comment after squashing the bug 🙂

Thanks for the heads up. Fixed now, I think. Please try again.

Sorry, John. I could fill the boxes. The “subscribe” button does not work. Thanks and best wishes, Charles Charles L Starke MD s/v Dawnpiper

Hi Charles,

That’s strange I just tested it (for the second time) and it works fine for me. Check your email (spam too) and see if there is a email asking you to confirm. Thanks

Hi John Nothing happens when I press subscribe. What should happen? Does it confirm my choice? No email yet to confirm choice in mail or spam. Thanks Charles

A note comes up under the subscribe button telling you to check you email. What kind of device are you using: phone, computer, tablet?

My thoughts based on my own, current, experiences.

The $200k currently translates to £145k and with 9 years inflation at 14.5%, is about $229k or about £167k. Straw Poll suggests that 2000 – 2010 Alubat Ovni’s around the 40′ LOA range are within this price bracket with modest refit costs added (there is no free lunch). Compared to the ubiquitous Bavaria in the EU at 40′ LOA, same decade, the highest is priced at $143k (£105k) for a 2010 model, much less, almost half for the 2000 models. My main concern is that as middle men, with other parties involved in the design, build and exchequer take (hi in the EU), the challenge to keep the price low as everyone takes a bite of the pie will be difficult or make margins very tight.

The market globally, one could suggest, and as you imply, is for a Bavaria style yacht, as that is what people want (or wanted), which means that adventure style yachts are a niche market; implication being that economies of scale will not be as beneficial, adding to the price challenge. I suggest that the likes of Bavaria has benefited from the consumption of retired Baby Boomers who rode the spectacular growth wave over their working lives and found they could access the sun and sail markets en mass with their retirement status at that time.

However, we are entering a period where the first of the Gen-X’s born from 1964 onwards, are nearing 60 years of age. A sad fact of life is that their elderly boomer parents are dying off. This Generation has most of the boomer benefits, perhaps access to inheritance, less love of consumption and an awareness of doing things differently to their parents, they may not want the Boomer sun and sea lifestyle: summer sailing and winter skiing (a 1960’s aspiration based on what was seen as wealthy lifestyle); Gen-X want to see something different.

There is no doubt that adventure cruising is increasing in popularity and that interest in it is high. I have seen on Facebook quite a few new groups dedicated only to northern latitude sailing, starting over the last couple of years, also AAC being mentioned more often in other forums as a resource to go to, more folks talking about post working life adventure sailing and the rise of adventure sailing reporting in popular sailing media. My assumptions based on following these discussions are that most who are likely to do this are early 50s to around the early 60s i.e. Gen-x or last of the Boomers. Many will settle for the pain and drain of second hand yacht refits and many more look at prices and baulk at what is being asked for ready to sail yachts, new or second hand and that is your target population.

It is great that the A40 opportunity is being revived, I think the challenge to make it affordable will be significant (EU is not known for the low costs within it’s western countries compared to the likes of the USA), but I also think that the target market is there and funded if the timing is right. I don’t know about timing, so many variables, funding kids who can’t get jobs that pay meaningful salaries e.g. deposit on their home or settling education debt means a chunk out of the sailing budget (100% in some cases), which makes that Bavaria more likely, yet inheriting parents homes may give cash a boost, but country taxes as Covid debt needs to be paid may impact and inflationary pressures are forecast, thus eroding capital and increasing costs. I mention these things because the market is not likely the very wealthy who can afford new adventure sailing ready boats, but the masses of ordinary people who get to a good position in life, but will have to pay, unlike their Boomer parents who did not.

I love the A40 concept, keeping it straightforward and simple to keep the costs down. I think the modern production methods of mass produced yachts may be required to achieve that price but wonder if the volume will justify the set up costs. I think the market will respond to a low cost boat, because most who want this type of sailing, just see the types of boats that we would want to use as being unobtainable from a price perspective. Last point, marketing people know what buttons to push for sales which is why we have huge cockpits, wide galleys and large saloons. There is a marketing challenge required to address this, because some of the market will be aspirational adventure sailors who in their heart of hearts know that the boat will be bought if they can justify marina living. I don’t know how this would be addressed but it must incorporate Green credentials, safety, reliability, comfort and low cost of ownership compared to the current offerings. This latter part is the other aspect I see talked about in forums: the high cost of boat ownership.

For sure, it will be a challenge, but one worth looking at. Good luck.

Fascinating and cogent insight.

Hi Alastair,

Lots of good thoughts, but don’t forget we already created a market for this boat once, and that was at a time where there were many more good second hand boats out there than there are now.

Also with a boat like the A40 final cost is a lot more about efficiency in the manufacturing process than base in-country costs for things like labour. That’s how the French have already pretty much nuked North American boat building, even though their cost of labour is higher.

Heck, even J-Boat, the quintessential American brand has moved all manufacturing to France.

And finally here is how we will save at least 35% of cost base in comparison to any other new boat: https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/07/25/unbundling-the-adventure-40/

As an ex boat builder based in RI then ME, but lately out of touch with the industry, what you say is interesting to me. I knew many shops were struggling or, for composite shops, moving beyond the marine industry, but I hadn’t known France was taking over like you say. I thought my choice of a French boat was due to it being aluminum, which we don’t do here so much. I remember though, working at goetz in RI in the early 2000s, some French sailers were passing through on some boat that needed a repair on one of their foils, and even among some of the old hands there foils were a bit novel.

Hi Michael,

Yes, the incredible pivot to boat building in France is something I only really noticed a couple of years ago when at the US Sailboat Show. Judging by the boats there it should be renamed the French Sailboat Show!

Also, these days the really big shows are all in Europe: METS, Duseeldorf, La Rochelle

And then when we look at advances in boat design, particularly IMOCA, France again.

Well, we’ve found the head of marketing…buyer persona nailed.

Fantastic news, John. I know this is a project near and dear to many hearts.

Oh my. Our whole boat search priorities and philosophy has just changed. Our broker will be so confused. 😉

Hi John, much appreciated, thanks!

What about an Adventure 32? At 40′ you’re pricing yourself out of a huge segment of the market that would like to get a serious boat but can’t afford the upkeep and dockage (let alone the purchase price) of a 40′ boat. I know personally if I was given gratis a 40′ boat, I would sell it and put the money into a smaller boat and leave sooner and stay gone longer.

I answer that here (scroll down): https://www.morganscloud.com/2013/01/07/adventure-40-faqthe-boat/

Also, it’s important not to confuse LOA with size: https://www.morganscloud.com/2012/11/30/adventure-40-its-about-displacement-and-righting-moment/

It seems to me that the crux of the matter is in the phrase “the financing of this study will have to be defined.” Plucking a figure out of the air for the study only I would guess $35 k US. This would normally be provided by the 2 guys and if they are unable or unwilling to do so it would not bode well. A suggested designer is Tony Castro for reputation and experience and a lower cost alternative is Paul Bury of Australia who I have used extensively on my project and would highly recommend.. Concept drawings and quotes for the study should be forthcoming for around $5k each. This should be the first step. An alternative financing plan would be to have the buyers who indicated they were prepared to put down a deposit fund the study by lodging their share with a trustee, say yourself, who would then disburse as the study progressed. This study would enable fixed qoutes for the final plansand a very close quote for building based on 3, 5, and 10 boats. Deposits could then be forthcoming to get production underway. Hope this may prove useful and that the project comes to fruition.

Hi William,

No question that they will need to come up with some seed capital. Originally we figured about $US750,000, but that included starting from scratch and building the prototype. If they can get an existing builder interested the number would be a lot lower, probably very close to your estimate.

The key to designer selection is going to be finding someone who really “gets” the boat and will stick to the original concept, rather than try and turn it into “their boat”.

If the business plan is compelling then the funding will follow. As an investor in many startup businesses, I have NEVER seen a robust business plan, led by a strong team, fail to get funding. The funds required to get this off the ground are not, by professional investor standards, large. If the designer/architect engaged is a known name then it will be even easier to get funding. (I suggest Dudley Dix, but I admire to being conflicted as he designed my beautiful Shearwater 45. )

You are right, the key to funding is a good plan and I think these guys have the experience and credibility put one together. As you say, the amount, while a lot of money to each of us individually, is trivial by start up standards.

Excellent news. Now I’d like to address something related, but different: a powerboat version of the Adventure 40.

I have been in contact with Dickey Boats in NZ, re. getting a LRC58, Dennis’s design that was talked about in the Adventure 40 discussions, as a possible ‘dark side’ variation. The reality is that, today, an LRC58 will be somewhere between 1.4–1.8 million NZD.

I am commenting here only to raise that point of discussion in parallel. If there’s no interest, no problem, but I would like it raised, if possible.

We have talked about that in the past and in fact I put quite a lot of time into the idea including some long chats with Steve Dashew, so if you and others can get some traction going in the same way as Pascal and Maxime are doing with the A40 I will certainly write about it.

One thing to know is if you want an offshore version the absolute minimum it can be done for is about US$600,000 and probably closer to a million. Where in that spread depends on number of boats in first build.

What a great news! Not that I am in the market to buy an A40 in the next 2-5 years, but I would be extremely happy to see this project succeed.

Excellent news. I let my AAC membership expire due to the stagnation of the A40. I just renewed. Please keep me on the very interested list.

Hi Gregory,

Good to hear, I’m thinking the next step is a to put together a survey, so make sure you sign up for the separate list above to make sure you’re included.

Great news John. I was ready to buy an A40 then turned to a Boreal 47 when the project stalled. Dreaming now what I might of done with the extra $$$. I wish you success.

First of all, many thanks John for introducing us so kindly! The illustration with our national flag is very pleasant 🙂

We must say this in public: we’re really grateful to John for having created and put a lot of thinking in the project, and for having then “set it free”. We will do our best to be up to this vision and efforts, and take the project further!

Thanks to those who already responded with encouragements! Since the original discussions were some years ago, we very much look forward to the collective feedback: are you a potential owner of an A40? If we succeed, what will determine your decision to buy or not to buy one?

@ Alastair and William: we too are impatient to get to the point where we will speak finances and business plans! However, first things first: our immediate goals right now are 1) to get a first feedback of what the interest for the A40 is, now in 2021 – and John is doing us a big favor by allowing this right here, 2) to write the specifications down, in a form that will allow signing a contract with an architect, to undertake the preliminary design.

Really excited to see this get picked back up. Went back through and read all the articles related to the A40 and I really like the premise, initial spec and layout. Great job pulling this together John. 

To your question Maxime – I can definitely see myself being a potential owner. How well you can execute against the concept of a simple yet very robust offshore boat setup for a couple without cutting any critical corners will be a big factor. Price is obviously a concern, but I would rather see the price go up if it’s well spent on key aspects of the design. Certainly John’s stamp of approval through the whole process will go a long way to satisfying those concerns and will be a critical piece of the project from my perspective. Unfortunately I have one other concern and that is headroom. Sufficient headroom for my 6’4” height would likely be the final decision point for me personally if all other aspects of the build have been met.

Looking forward to seeing what you and Pascal can accomplish.

Great to hear you might be interested in a boat.

That said, I would not predicate the purchase of any boat on headroom. Adding too much headroom to a boat can have a lot of downsides, particularly making the bilge too shallow and the cabin sole too narrow as well as leaving no room for tankage. On deck too much headroom can make the boat look boxy and result in side decks that are two narrow.

I’m 6’2″ with a bad back and arthritic degeneration in my neck so I get why you might value headroom a lot, but even so I think making it a non-negotiable criteria is a mistake since the downsides may easily outweigh the benefits. 

This is not just preaching in that the lead contender boat to replace Morgan’s Cloud does not have standing headroom for me in much of the cabin.

The bottom line is that when living on a boat we really don’t stand much, and even when we do, it’s often possible to reduce hight by leaning against something and bending our knees a bit.

Thanks a lot for the confirmation that sticking to the concept and to quality will be pivotal. That’s how we see this too.

Regarding headroom, this is a difficult tradeoff. And an important one: we aim to put as much tankage and storage as possible under the floors, and, going forward, the deck at mast foot, where hoisting/reefing is done, must not be too high. At this point, our draft of the specifications (in progress) states that there must be at least 1,90 meters available at the main places – so, sadly, not enough for you to stand comfortably. But that’s just a first figure, in the initial draft of a document.

I think that 1.9m is a good target for the reasons you state. No question that some people will pass the boat by because of it, but the whole point of the A40 is that we are building the best offshore cruising boat for the money, not a boat that tries to be all things to all people.

A thought. I’m under the impression that many marinas raise rental when a boat goes above 12 metres or 40 feet. If I’m right it might be a good idea to keep the L.O.A. to slightly less than that given that this boat is going to appeal to people who have lower level budgets. The L.W.L. could still be long and the anchor kept off the topsides by having a pivoting anchor sprit.

Our boat, designed under a different Canadian tax regime (and apparently, one still using Imperial measurements) in the 1980s is 39 feet, 11 inches LOD (and for tax purposes!) and 41′ 10″ when the bowsprit is included. Unless the berth is unusually tight, I just call it a 40 footer or a 12 metre boat. It does show how boat designers must draw at least partially on artificial distinctions such as “a fraction under 40 feet” in length. I do not know if building the Adventure 40 prototype in France would affect this consideration, or if it would affect its appeal in North America in the present day or the near future.

I agree 110.. call it 39.8

An interesting thought.

However, based on over 25 years of cruising all over the North Atlantic and Caribbean I have never seen (that I can remember) a marina that kicks the rate per foot up at 40-feet. If there is an increase in per foot rate it’s pretty much always at 50-feet. Given that I would not constrain the designer with that limitation. Length is a very important variable for a whole bunch of different things. For example Erik was able to dramatically improve the layout below by increasing the overall length to 42 feet.

I will want the new designer to have the same flexibility since artificially constraining length is a lot of the reason that so many modern boats are as poorly designed as they are. Or to put it another way if you see “the biggest 40′ boat you can buy” run a mile.

And finally, the best way for a money constrained cruiser (aren’t we all) to save money is to stay out of marinas in the first place: https://www.morganscloud.com/2014/10/01/five-ways-to-save-big-money-while-cruising-part-1/

Sailing in the Med — there is most definitely a 12m distinction in marinas. If the boat can stay out of marinas with optionality (watermaker, tankage etc) built in, great..but there are very few anchorage / mooring ball options in the Med. So, market segmentation can focus on the budget conscious cruiser.

Out of curiosity, I’ve looked at the price list of the marina in Croatia where out boat is stored and found that they charge flat price for daily or annual berths in the water for all boats up to 12,99m. On a euro/meter basis, that’s actually disadvantaging all the Pardeys out there who want to stay at this particular marina.

I looked at the price list of another random Croatian marina and found that on euro/meter/annum basis, the optimal boat length is 8,99m and the price jump from 11,99m to 12,00m is not at all remarkable.

This, of course, gives us only very limited information, but my two spot checks did not confirm your assertion.

Thanks for the research. As you say, not definitive, but still valuable. To me anyway it’s a non issue where the A40 is concerned. See my comment to Calvin.

Hi Calvin, I certainly remember a 12-meter/40-foot cut-off in many marinas in the Med (as well as in Northern Europe). And, some areas, for sure it is likely, sometimes mandatory, to be in marinas, but in our 4-5 years of wandering the length and breadth of the Med 6-8 months a year, the vast majority of our overnights were at anchor. This is especially the case if you stay away from the frequented areas (The Balearics, S coast of Spain and France) or visit them in the off-season. My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Thanks for the fill on that, invaluable real world experience.

You may be right, (but see Alex’s research), I have never cruised the Med, so can’t be sure.

Anyway, regardless, my thinking is that constraining an offshore voyaging boat for marinas is a serious mistake and I will argue against it to the end.

The key to good design is understanding the mission and sitting in a marina is not the A40 mission, that’s what Bennies are for. A40s are for those heading for far horizons.

And further I suspect that the target market for the A40 will have a cruising profile much like the one Phyllis and I practiced for 30 years: if marinas were the only option in an area we just moved on.

Glad to hear I was labouring under a false.

I wouldn’t worry too much about arbitrary cutoffs like that. Each place is a little different, and optimizing for one will put you on the wrong side of the line for another.

If you are close to 20 metres LOA, there’s a big cost and regulatory advantage to staying below that mark, but that’s a waaaaay bigger boat than we’re talking about here. Staying just below 12 metres can bring some benefits in places like the Med, but that’s more of a marina thing than a rules thing.

And the A40 is meant to go places, not to sit at the dock. If you want to obsessively optimize your boat size per marina dollar, buy a houseboat.

Hi Matt, John, So agree with your Marina comment – it’s an ADVENTURE 40…if someone wants to visit marinas, buy an already great value costal boat from any of a half-a-dozen super competent production boat companies.

But on the other hand 12 metres is the magical length of a 40 foot flat-deck container, and more importantly the length of a standard slot on a container vessel. Given the recent hike in shipping costs with COVID19, and possible long tail, might 12 metres be a great target length?

If over 12 metres is the sweet-spot for maximising accomodation layout, then could the boat be designed with a massive watertight bulkhead at the 12 metre cut-off, with a bolt on bow section as another selling feature (sacrificial in the event of collisions and easy replacement from spares stock in France)?

Cutting out the dealer channel and shipping straight to market will require an innovative shipping solution and perhaps the A40 could get another price advantage with some careful design work to meet John’s “unbundled” boat-in-a-box approach?

Whilst talking about spares stock, an Adventure 40 owner, living up to the boat’s name should reasonably expect rapid access to standard spares. As a minimum I would expect a complete rudder with composite shaft attached, tiller, mast, boom and any other mission critical A40 custom fabrication. Anything that could reasonably be expected to get broken in an accident.

Now spares access is something “Benny” do masterfully – even our twenty year old B473 has almost every critical part available ex-stock still today, including the rudder with its composite stock. A Benny by the way that almost never visits a marina, haha!

I hear you on the shipping issues, but given that the whole idea is that it’s an offshore boat customers will be encouraged to take delivery in France and sail it home. No matter what we did, shipping the boat is going to add a lot of cost.

As to bolt on bow, we are trying to keep this boat simple, so while that’s an innovative idea, it goes against several of the A40 core values: https://www.morganscloud.com/2014/08/31/twenty-adventure-40-core-principles/

As to parts, absolutely. And that will be way easier for the A40 builder since the boat will have zero options.

Between my record weekly interest payment from Celsius Network and this news, its the best Monday I have had in a long time. I’d like to offer my support on developing a commercialization plan should you feel the need, pro-bona of course. This is a force of good, that needs to be nurtured back to life.

Quelle belle nouvelle!

As an exercise, I’ve been thinking about the marketing angle of this and how to poke some holes in it. Here’s some half-baked thoughts.

• This boat is exceedingly practical and rational. I LOVE the concept and would buy one myself. But it’s well-proven by now that most people don’t operate rationally, psychologically. So it’s already a niche market in the adventure sailing category, and maybe even more niche because it’s TOO rational? So is the best thing going for it – the rationality and practicality – maybe actually a downside from a marketing perspective?
• What’s the tagline for the boat, the one-liner that will get people in the door, the marketing hook? There’s no pedigree in the designer (though there could be, if someone like Frers came onboard); there’s no history in the builder (and if it’s built by Beneteau, for example, I think that would be a net negative from an assumed quality standpoint); there’s no name recognition like HR, Swan or even Ovni; there’s little ‘sex-appeal’ simply because the boat is so smart and practical. You don’t want to have to make people read a long dissertation about why they should buy it – so what’s the ‘hook’ going to be?
• The price. Say it comes in at $220k in today’s dollars. I wonder if that is a weird middle ground? It’s still way too expensive for most people trying to buy a boat with cash, and I wonder if it’s almost too cheap for someone looking to finance it? Financing has changed how so many ‘big’ things are priced. It’s no longer about the total price, but rather the monthly payment. So when someone is comparing boats and looking not at the bottom line figure but the monthly payment, will this price point get ‘lost’ because it would be so tempting to add a few hundred bucks to your monthly payment, ignoring the total cost?
• Someone else commented on the cost of ownership. Your assumption above that the existence of the boat “will in time result in a pool of relatively new secondhand Adventure 40s for sale.” But even if those boats are relatively new, if they have been cruised hard, a lot of the stuff that’s ‘bolted on’ will need to be replaced. Rigging, sails, batteries, etc. And all that stuff still costs the same, regardless of how expensive the boat was when it was purchased new. Part of the reason people buy Hallberg-Rassy’s is how they hold their value over time – so will the A40 be a good value to the owner when they go to sell it later on, and would that in turn be a BAD value for the buyer, since it will certainly need some refit items as any used boat would?

None of these comments are meant to be overly negative, I just enjoy the process of playing devil’s advocate in the hopes that it makes for a better final plan. This will be fun to follow!

All interesting thoughts indeed.

To your second point, I think it shouldn’t be very hard to come up with a tagline. I just thought of one while reading your comment: “A40 – A boat to go, not to dream”. Funny enough, I then went to check out HR website and saw that their headline is “Hallberg-Rassy – Your dream yacht within reach”. See? A40 would immediately stand out 🙂 This is, of course, all coming from a guy who knows nothing about marketing, so take it with a grain of salt.

Well that’s solved! I’m going to add it to the A40 page right now. Thank you, Alex,

The pleasure is all mine

First off, thanks for taking the time to contribute. I know you are crazy busy, so doubly appreciated. Here’s what I’m thinking about your very good points:

1 and 3) . I hear you on positioning and price , but that’s for conventional marketing based on advertising and promotion by the builder of the product and sold through dealers and boat shows.

This is content marketing and completely different. One could also call it education marketing, where third parties without a conflict of interest:

• me (I make nothing from the A40),
• and the experienced offshore sailors that comment here,

who have credibility through experience, explain what really matters when buying a the product. This takes years to build: AAC goes 18 this year.

This solves the age old problem where you have to have experienced the product (offshore boats) to buy the right product, but most buyers of new boats are inexperienced so buy the wrong boat…catch 22.

And we know this works because we already did it with 350 people signed up and ten ready to put down deposits as of 5 years ago.

And in the last 48 hours 52 new people signed up and only 13 unsubscribed even though it has been 5 years since they last heard from us. (75% of the originals opened the latest email as at now) I don’t have to tell you what incredible numbers those are.

Bottom line, when you sell someone on an idea with content marketing, they stay sold!

Another good example would be Steve Dashew who for 40 years sold boats that would never sell otherwise—an ugly* unpainted aluminium motor boat for 3 million bucks—through content marketing.

The final example is 59 North. No one would go sailing with you if you just put an ad in yachting mags. First you teach them why sailing offshore with an experienced mentor matters, through your pod cast and Quarterdeck, then they go sailing with you.

2. Tagline: solved, see below, although still open to suggestions and improvements.

4. Cost of ownership. The work I have been doing on a refit budget clearly shows that it’s not replacing worn out gear that kills a refit, it’s slipping into rebuild.

And most older boats end up being rebuilds (look at your Swan 44 and Arcturus ) both have ended up costing big even though they were well built at first, just because they 30-40 years old—I’m adding up what the previous owners put in before you and your spending.

A ten year old A40 will be a way better deal, both because it’s newer and because we are thinking about stuff like making the boat so the big ticket items won’t be a problem. Examples:

• chain plates: composite;
• keel: bronze bolts, and bomb proof attachment;
• rudder: composite shaft so no water ingress.

All paid for by the savings from using direct content marketing: https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/07/25/unbundling-the-adventure-40/

Thanks again for your points, really got me thinking. The above might be the basis for the next post on the A40

How about we thrash this out on the podcast? Get August in on it too.

*I think they are cool, but it’s not a conventional or pretty boat.

John an interesting comparison, but in a different market segment, is the Kraken yachts. They’ve gone all-in on being the only true bluewater boats out there, with skeg-hung rudders and internal keel ballast. They launched a magazine and podcast called OCEAN SAILOR, which is full of propaganda and I frankly think very bad for offshore sailing in general. They’ve taken the attitude that if it’s not an internal keel and skeg-rudder, it’s unsuited for ocean sailing, and that’s just misinforming people I think. As AAC knows, it’s way more nuanced! But a good study on how they’ve tried to fill that niche in their own way.

To me the big take away from Kraken is that they are not doing content marketing as you and I do it, but rather just product promotion, just the same as any other company selling something.

True content marketing is dependent on the content being primary and the product, if any, being secondary. For example you talk about what you truly believe on On The Wind and then if someone decides that they want to go sailing with you, well that’s cool. But you don’t structure your content to make that happen. That comes though in everything you do and it is, I believe, the secret of your success.

Here at AAC we are perhaps even more truly content based in that we now take no advertising and don’t benefit from the Adventure 40 so our content is the product , not something else we are trying to sell. So when we say that the A40 is a good offshore boat, and explain why, we have cred that Kraken will never have no matter how much money they throw at it.

Bottom line, for content marketing to work the content itself must lead and must be authentic.

And I agree, a lot of what Kraken say is wrong, overly simplistic, and damaging to offshore sailing.

I think keeping the price down to ~$200k to $250k, ready to sail, is actually a very important part of this effort. I don’t think it’s a weird middle ground at all.

What demographics are likely to buy this boat, by the time Pascal & Maxime get her built, tested, and ready to sell? Largely my own – professional-class millennials – plus GenX and, once the boat’s established, the small handful of GenZ who are on track to being financially secure.

Most of those are people who are still fighting to earn wealth, rather than watching it accumulate by itself in stocks and real estate, and don’t have 20th-century luxuries like unions or job security. The idea of having $300-$400k tied up in a financed boat is terrifying to people like me. But a lot of us might be willing to take on a $200k marine mortgage, or a <50% loan against a $500k house, knowing that there’s a hard floor on how much we could lose if it all goes sideways in an instant.

Also, looking at the kind of boats and cars that my millionaire friends have been driving lately, I think it’s safe to say few of them give a damn about varnished teak or hand-carved oak inlays. They want stuff that’s elegantly designed, that works, that’s low maintenance, that feels like it’s worth what it cost, and that they can enjoy as intended rather than having someone repair it every month.

Andy, these are very valid points. In essence you’re asking what is the value proposition of the boat? What problem (s) will the boat solve? The $200k price point for a 40′ is the hook. But as you well laid, out the total cost of ownership is the devil in the details, which a layperson has no idea on. So, if this boat could draw in a community that has experience/ passion to make this an attractive purchase, where one size fits all, or at least 80%, then it has a chance.

One thing, I think needs to be considered, is the force of customization desires. John’s made it clear in the past , there is not going to be any. I think I read that right?. If so , its a serious limiter. It could be handled by an associate company, that can take the customization orders, think AMG for Mercedes. My guess, this is where the majority of the profit will come from.

Promoting an untested boat is a challenge. There are influencers out there, including you Andy, and others here that could test drive the boat but it needs a long test run to be convincing..Who is going to buy Hull#1? I know one guy who’d be a great spokesman, Erik Aanderaa I like Alex’s tag line.. a boat to go on, not dream on!

Collaboration – typing ideas here is ok,but not sustainable. Setup a Clubhouse channel for weekly brainstorms with the community. Use Zoom for meetings requiring presentations etc.

Finally, the money. Going up against Beney and the Boys, is a daunting task. We need an army , a community that goes beyond sailors but includes entrepreneurs who can provide additional sales/revenue channels. How about franchising sailing schools and chartering, built on the Adventure 40 platform? Pitch to investors a theme like AirBnB, Booking.com or a similar business that has a network effect. Looking at all the subscribers on YouTube, there are a lot of dreamers out there.

I am one of them and excited to see this project’s heartbeat again.

Interesting comments, a few thoughts in answer:

• The boat has already proved her value proposition. See my numbers to Andy.
• Customization: dealt with here: https://www.morganscloud.com/2012/05/19/adventure-40-reliability-quality/
• I agree there will be companies that specialize in add ons to the A40 and that they will make money.
• No one is going to buy hull #1, proper prototyping has been a core A40 value from day 1. It’s also in the French plan.
• I agree, Andy and Mia (with Axel) would be great to sail and comment on the prototype.
• Clubhouse, zoom, youtube, etc. Over my dead body. That kind of place is for chatter and dreaming. Real stuff gets done in writing. Of course I don’t control that, so who knows, but I will not participate in such channels.
• Also note the the Erik/Kip A40 project lost all traction as soon as the moved off AAC.
• Not going up against Benney. The A40 is a vertical market boat that will dominate its niche. That’s how small upstarts succeed. (AAC is a good example.) Benney probably won’t care…unless they end up being the builder. That’s not a hint, just saying nothing is off the table.
• I agree, clubs, and other shared ownership options, with A40s are a great idea, in fact I mentioned it in the article above.

Really interested to follow the progress of the A40 and wish it all the best. Unfortunately it’s probably too late for me. I’m a novice sailor who bought a 30 year old Starlight 39 last October. The cost of the work I’ve had done makes 200k for a new boat seem a very logical alternative.

I agree with your point about real decisions and real progress being made on paper (or at least in text). However, so far there’s been a natural focus on the design. It may be happening behind the scenes but, like Calvin, I hope someone is thinking about the marketing and promotion. It’d be a real shame if the A40 became one more product that struggles to give the world what it needs rather than what it wants.

If I understand your target market correctly it sounds as though they’re not really the same crowd as the AAC readership? The biggest challenges are going to be getting noticed and then explaining why the AC40 is different. There are lots of great reasons to want the AC40 but success is going to require some very effective marketing.

Best of luck with the project and thank you for all the other sound advice. My spade arrived a couple of weeks ago and we’ve just about worked out how to fit it on the bow roller.

Hi Charlie,

First off, wishing you all the best with the new boat.

It’s interesting to me that many of the comments to this post are worries about marketing and promotion. That’s the last thing I worry about simply because it’s already done and dusted: we created a market four years ago, and latest sign ups and retention on the A40 list indicate that said market is both sticky and has grown.

In fact the big problem with the A40 was always getting the boat built, not finding enough people to buy her. Hopefully Pascal and Maxime will fix that.

Also not sure why you would assume that the market for A40 would be different than AAC membership? I would guess the exact opposite. Anyway, easy to check, by running a compare on the A40 list against our membership table. I will do that. Thanks for triggering the idea to do that.

I’m not sure how typical my own experience was but I spent two or three years researching possible boats. I subscribed to two sailing mags and followed all the forums and YouTube channels that seemed relevant. I ended up with a shortlist of the usual suspects (Malo, HR, Najad, Ovni etc.) but the boats within my budget were so old they felt like ‘project boats’ I didn’t have the experience or time to take on.

My point is that when I had money burning a hole in my pocket I hadn’t come across AAC. I’ve met several people since who know it well, but they’re all experienced sailors who already own a blue water boat.

Some of these folk will of course be interested in a change but I thought the hope was to open up expedition sailing to a new crowd?

Ah, I see what you mean.

That said, I still think that the best way to get the A40 out there is to, at least initially, limit exposure to AAC. The problem with trying to make the boat widely known through conventional marketing is that it’s very expensive to do that, and often ineffective.

For example, I would guess that the price of say a Beneteau includes at least 30% in advertising, promotion and sales costs, might easily be more. I would rather see that money put into quality build, particularly since our experience five years ago showed that we should not have any problem getting at least 10 initial orders once a boat is designed.

Then, once the boats are out there, I think the word will get around pretty quickly—buzz marketing. In fact that will probably happen even before the first boat is launched. We saw that five years ago when other sites and even magazines picked up the story as soon as we had a few sketch’s from Erik. And the great thing about that is that true editorial coverage (not paid for) is at least an order of magnitude more effective than advertising.

By the way, we have already seen this work with the Boreal line of boats. They are one of the most successful boat builders in business today and have never advertised but rather relied exclusively on content marketing and buzz. I would also venture to guess that at least a third of their boats were sold because of exposure here at AAC.

As to the issue of sales effort (different than marketing) we already have a plan for that: https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/07/25/unbundling-the-adv

The key here is that people believe what I write, or at least believe that I’m authentic even if they disagree, because I’m not getting paid to write by a third party. Rather I work for you and the other members and therefore my interest is aligned with yours.

And finally, note that we receive a little over 200,000 unique visitors a year here at AAC, a great deal more circulation than any magazine, and that about 50% come from organic search (google mostly).

If your interested in learning more about how effective true editorial exposure and content marketing is I suggest the writings of Seth Godin: https://www.sethgodin.com

Sign me up for the “My next boat’s an AC40” transom sticker

What a great idea. We need A40 swag: stickers, bags, tee shirts. Maybe half models when we have a design. Might be a nice little business for someone. Any volunteers to organize this?

The idea of creating A40 swag got my gears turning over the last few weeks, and I’m interested in pursuing it. My professional skills include logo design and web development, so I’d like to: A) Volunteer a logo for use on the A40 project and B) Set up a web shop where folks could order quality items featuring custom A40 graphics.

I have a draft logo that I will post here after I consider the best way to present it on a public forum. For now, I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the idea of goods offered through a web store.

Also, I hope others will chime in with what particular goods they’d be interested in.

It will take time to find the best suppliers, develop each design, order samples and test for quality, and finally put up a retail storefront on the web. For starting out, I believe the best approach will be to offer a few simple print-on-demand items such as coffee mugs, stickers, and tote bags (all of which are easy to source and test). Later, if there is interest, we could offer posters, hats, t-shirts, polo shirts, duffle bags, etc. (These items are either harder to find in good quality and/or require more design effort and/or testing.)

I’m very concerned with only offering high quality goods, both for the reputation of the A40 project, and because the last thing people need is more useless junk that only ends up being discarded. So it’s essential that each item be fully tested and meet a high standard before being offered.

Half hull models would be another level up from the soft goods, being more complicated and expensive to source (might require a pre-order program, for example), but indeed a bridge we can cross when we come to it.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

Just to give you an idea of what we can do, here’s a draft design for Charlie’s humorous transom sticker. We have lots more ideas as well. Any feedback is welcome and appreciated! 🙂

(Click the image to view it at the proper aspect ratio.)

Love it! When can I get one?

Excellent 👍

After reading one of John’s more recent posts about solo docking it occurred to me that all the reasons men buy boats are pretty primal.

How about a lady’s T with the slogan

“A40 – the boat that gets me there”

(hat tip to the famous VW ad)

That all sounds good to me. That said, I wonder if tee and polo shirts might not be more popular than mugs and stickers. The other advantage is that people wearing an A40 shirt are free advertising for the boat: “what’s an A40” “wow have I got a story for you”.

Love the half model idea and I know a company that does that cost effectively. Definitely something we should do as soon as there is a design.

I really like the logo you sent us. I can also put is up as part of an article on AAC marketing that I was thinking about anyway. Great because it shows that people like you are willing to put skin in the game. Let me know if that works for you.

My other thought is that this should be done in concert with Maxime and Pascal so that, if they like it, they use the same logo. The three of you can, I’m sure, figure out a fair way to do this, so everyone gets properly compensated.

Thanks for your response and feedback.

I agree that shirts will be both more popular and better advertising. And more fun! T-shirts are easier to source than polos, and since they’re printed rather than embroidered, there’s a lot more workable area. After considering the issue further, they seem to be the best starting point.

I have a draft design, so will order samples from some different suppliers this weekend to see who has the best quality. I should be able to make a selection after some wash-testing. (The A40 program is all about testing prototypes, right? 🙂 )

If things move along smoothly on this end, perhaps I could coordinate the storefront launch with your marketing post. That would definitely get the best response. I can probably give you an idea of the timeline I’m looking at after I receive samples, and see if it’s compatible with your posting schedule.

Below is a draft design (suitable for t-shirts and tote bags) with a fresh take on some tag lines. (I’m fortunate to have an in-house copywriter who lends me her services.) I’d be interested in any feedback you and others have. The suggestion box is open!

I’d be happy to coordinate with Maxime and Pascal to see if they’re interested in the logo design or something similar for use on their materials. I’ll also send you an updated version in various sizes that can be used on AAC posts.

Very excited to get the ball rolling on the A40 swag project!

That’s incredible. I love both parts of the copy and the logo. Way better than anything I had in mind. This is so cool I think it deserves an article all of it’s own. Just let me know when you are ready to go and I will do that. Sign me up for the first shirt.

Wow, John, thanks! Really glad you like the design! There’s always a bit of uncertainty when introducing a design, and it’s a great feeling to know we captured some of the spirit and intent of the project.

While printed tees and sundry items are about as simple a project as one can get, there are still bound to be complications. The first, as I’ve just learned, is that direct-to-garment printing (the process used by print-on-demand services, known as DTG) tends to work better on light color fabrics. So I will make a variation suitable for white or light gray t-shirts and get samples printed of both that and the navy blue version above.

I’ll let you know about the estimated timeline as soon as I have anything that isn’t a WAG. 🙂

Sounds good, I’m in for the first Tee shirt and will post a pic of it me wearing it. Hope that does not wreck the project! Size large please.

It’s great to see that others are ready to put some skill and effort into the A40!! The drawings are very good indeed. And thank you John for having asked for others to do this!

As “soon” as we will be close to launching production (so not that soon!), we can discuss whether and on what terms we would use your drawings, and of course we will be happy if we can find an agreement to make things work together!

Thanks for the kind words about the designs! And also, for being open-minded about the possibility of using them, which is a great compliment. I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement when the time comes, but of course you’re under no obligation to use something that has been volunteered.

Hopefully the image will look good on the upcoming shirts, and will inspire many A40 related conversations this summer. 🙂

Would you or Pascal have any suggestions for a French language tagline? The best I could come up with is, “prêt au large dès le premier jour”, but without much fluency I don’t know if such a literal translation of the English sounds awkward to a native speaker.

Another great idea to add a French tagline. Makes the point that this will be an international boat, and of course will be great here in Canada.

Perhaps “prêt à partir en le premier jour” or “fait pour partir le premier jour”? Good slogan however it’s tweaked.

Hi Scott, We apologize for our answer coming so late, we should have kept the habit of checking this page. Rather than having one english and one french tagline, we think a mix might be a good solution – something in english with a french touch, that people from both sides would easily understand, even without much knowledge of the other language. We’ll do some brainstorming and try to come out with something!

No worries about the late reply; I haven’t quite adapted to the the new “subscribe to comments” feature myself, and only saw your reply this weekend.

I look forward to your ideas for a “cross cultural” slogan. It seems like a tough assignment to me, but fortunately you have a far better command of English than I do of French. 🙂

For now, the sample t-shirts I ordered are only in English, but do have a small tricolor flag. In my approach to the logo, I tried to take inspiration from certain French graphic design styles, though the final composition is quite eclectic.

Any input that you would like to share on how you feel the project would be best represented to the audience here on AAC and regionally in FR and the EU would be most welcome! (I try to absorb all the information I can as part of the design process.)

Also, a general update on the shirts: I should be receiving samples around the third week of June, and if they look good (and hold up to washing) the storefront can go live shortly thereafter.

John, if these dates hold and you are ready, perhaps a tentative date for a related post on A40 marketing could be around July 1?

I updated the slogan to read “Offshore Capable from Day One”, eliminating a possible customer confusion regarding the exact meaning of the word “ready”, which came up as a concern in one of the Adventure 40 comment sections that I re-read.

Owing to revisions needed for the constraints of t-shirt design (something new to me) and choosing from amongst the many possible suppliers, it took me longer than I initially anticipated to get the ball rolling for this iteration of product. But broadly speaking things are still on schedule for getting Adventure 40 swag into people’s hands this summer. 🙂

Here’s a mockup (not an actual print) of the white t-shirt. There will also be navy blue.

Lastly, would anyone be interested in long sleeve t-shirts?

The navy version:

Looks great and I think doing everything you have since the idea came up is nothing at all to apologize for!

I’m a fan of long sleeved tea shirts, but I’m not sure if they are popular with others. Anyone else have an idea on that?

And I love the change to the tag line. Definitely an improvement.

And finally, July 1 for a post works fine for me.

Hi Again Scott,

One other thought. I could add something about the A40 to our landing page and to the footer since the way it is now it’s hard to find the A40 stuff.

Something along the lines of: Home of the Adventure 40….

Would you be willing to let us use your design for that?

Thanks for your replies. I too like long sleeve tees to keep the sun off, so that’s enough votes in favor as far as I’m concerned 🙂

I think it’s a great idea to have a link to the A40 section from the public home page and the footer, and you’re of course welcome to use the design. Could you just let me know the approximate pixel dimensions and image format you prefer? I can reformat it to any size and either PNG, JPG, or SVG format (the latter usually gives the best appearance across different screen sizes).

That’s great, thank you.

Please email me the images 2000 px on the long side in both PNG and JPG (100%). Unfortunately WordPress does not allow the upload of SVG due to security concerns, but not a problem since our image CDN will optimize them for size and load speed on the fly for each user device screen size.

Sounds good. I’ll be in touch via email by the end of the week, as soon as my work schedule allows.

I would be very curious to know what kind of learning experience you have had with your Starlight 39 (my partner and I are looking at one at the moment), and if there are any specifics to watch out for when viewing one.

Hi Alwin, I’m not sure if I’ve got enough boat owning experience to give you much of an insight but very happy to try answer any questions you have. Drop a note to charlie armor @ gmail . com with your contact detail (without the spaces).

Many thanks for your interest in the project and for the comments! That you would be a buyer comes as a surprise to us, as you obviously don’t fall into the category of those who need the A40 to head offshore 😉 . Could you please expand on why, and on which criteria, you would buy one?

I do not think that if the boat is built by Beneteau or any other French boat builder this means necessarily low quality: The boat will be built according “AAC standards”, not according mass production and minimum cost requirements that we usually found with those boat builders. There cannot be any compromise on this as this will be the primary signature of the boat. Beneteau is capable of building boats such as the Figaro III that is capable of ocean going. 36 Figaro III are leaving this weekend for a transatlantic race. La Transat en Double – Concarneau – Saint-Barthélemy – Site officiel de la course

Hi Philippe,

I totally agree. The key to this is that the buyers are willing to pay for the quality and/or forgo other features so that the boat can come in at the right price and be built right.

A40!! I can’t explain adequately my immense joy at receiving the email announcing the resurrection of the A40! I am a relative sailing novice, but big on dreams. I was following the A40 narrative all those years ago, and was devastated when John pulled the plug (for all the right reasons, if my memory serves).

I drifted along for a while wondering if I had what it took to refit a boat, and after years of pondering JUST LAST MONTH I decided that cross ocean cruising wasn’t going to happen as I did not have the expertise to adequately refit a used boat. That conclusion was very, very hard to say out loud. But I forced myself to tell various friends to make it formal.

And here we are. A potential reversal of fortune. In a very good way.

I am in. I will be a buyer.

That is so cool. Thank you! You are exactly the person I was thinking of all those years ago when I wrote the first article that started it all: https://www.morganscloud.com/2012/01/23/low-cost-offshore-voyaging-boat/

Hi Steve, Thank you so much for this quite moving response! We do hope that the A40 can be a life-changing thing for some people. Anyway, you deserve the award of the most encouraging answer so far!!

no doubt an interesting project, but 200k is still alot for alot of people and too little for builders. anyone remotely into boats knows that the cost is all about the equipment and not the hull,. the hull is the cheap part. Sure aluminium is a good choice but by building it out it you are forcing the owner to learn yet another skill, which doenst come overnight (sure welding aint that hard to learn, but its hard to become a good, safe, relieable, welder) (says me with absolutely no experience in welding). its easy for this project to reignite the age old debate: what is a bluewater boat? personally, anything modestly robust (there is a few key points that must be present, but one can narrow those down), properly kitted out for the destination you want and a resourceful skipper makes a bluewater boat. People used to sail with no gps, no refrigeration, no engines, no solar, no depth meter, not that long ago and they still went places and had all the experiences. if anyone wants to sell this boat and make money it has to be in a Kit format. you are getting paid for all the designing, autocad hours, not the building. leave that to the customer. A brief visit to YouTube world and one can clearly see that ppl are inclined to have experiences within the experience of sailing, meaning: they like projects, they can monetize their projects by making videos and having patreon accounts, which will help pay back its cost, (all this involve time spent in the making of a production that engages the viewer, and that takes skills, but i guess they are still easier, less mistake prone and danger incurring ones that being a bad welder….). Flexibility is another key thing: offer different layouts and custumization to the buyer. Let them see what they are buying. Establish deals with the manufacturers of the necessary hardware, offer the buyer a deal that they can only get if they buy the kit from you. In essence, the manufacturer of the kit, more than building the kit, becomes a remote project manager/supporter by establishing all those connections. For this you do not need a big team, 3 commited individuals can manage this full time. As for the design of the boat itself i am a fan of pilot cutters, my ideal boat is a modernized pilot cutter. it is a perfomance boat (centuries of evolution) its a safe boat (not one lost to weather, ever!) depending on the hardware can be the shorthand sailed (easily by a couple). Wood epoxy system build suits the hull shape (strip plank base, covered with cold molded outer layers with produce a high-latitute capable boat). I own a 1962 Van de Statd Pioneer 9 that i am currently reffiting as a 2 person go- anywhere boat. and that will do. oh it will. for a fraction of those 200k. hope i have contributed to the discussion. peace!

All interesting thoughts, but a lot of what you are concerned about is covered and explained already in the specification and many of your concerns don’t apply to the boat we are building. Just one example, the boat is not aluminium.

https://www.morganscloud.com/category/boat-design-selection/adventure-40/

Hi Again Pedro,

Just to clarify a kit boat is a great idea in many ways, but that’s not what the Adventure 40 is all about. The whole idea of the Adventure 40 is a boat for those who just want to go voyaging, not spend years building or refitting a boat.

Also note that your Pioneer 9 is just about exactly half the size of the Adventure 40, so comparing costs is not really meaningful. Also, if you price your time at even $25/hour I’m guessing that by the time you are done you will have the price of an A40 in your boat. Also, your boat will still be 30 years old, so the Delta when you sell her will almost certainly be a lot more than for an A40: https://www.morganscloud.com/2021/02/05/buying-a-boat-a-different-way-to-think-about-price/

Don’t get me wrong, if you are enjoying the refit process, that’s totally cool and the right decision for you, but there are plenty of people that would not make sense for, and the A40 is for them.

Bottom line, we are talking about different boats. Both good ideas, but different.

hi.again when i mentioned my.boat wasnt really.for.a.comparison. for you cant really.compare a 40.footer.with.a.29.one. DIYing.it means.one doesnt.have to.account.for.its.labour.in.terms.of.money ( for.me.its more.about time.away from.family.and.other stuff) i live.in Macau (near Hong Kong) so.i.have access.to materials.and.hardware since.everything.is.done in China.these days. i will.be way away from.200k. if.one.has.200k.to.spent “like.that” they probably.have a bit.more, and.with all.the Cat hype.these.days….hummm….. the A40.is a.great concept.but.it is a sailors.boat,.it.happens that the majority.of.ppl.coming.into.this arent, they are cruisers. there is.a big.difference (sorry for all.the dots,.im on my.phone and have big.fingers)

I agree, often time with family etc is the most important opportunity cost of taking on a refit. Still, I think we need to put a money value on our time when making decisions. Just adds an important dose of reality.

hi again, so i did throw some numbers: boat cost was 6k, say i throw 6 times that value on gear, so 36k, and say i throw 1500 hours at 25USD, so 37.5k(38k for argument sake). total is 6k plus 36k plus 38k, equals 80k. 120k to go for your boat. since im not paying for that labour i just made an additional 38k! total cost 42K, i end up with a surplus 158k,(if the goal here is to stay at 200k) to spend on a few more items (having money at hand is problematic….haahha you end up spending it!) and still have a nice sum to start cruising. Now, the boat is still from 1962, so 58 yo, and it will still be a 29 footer,but i know every nook and cranny, been tru the systems myself, got a new set of sails, a wind vane, a nice B&G chartplotter with radar, a dinghy, 6 hp outboard, a liferaft, epirb, windlass, new synthethic standing rigging (that i am doing myself because i work as a rigger in the entertainment industry), give a nice overhaul on that yanmar 2gm20 which sips diesel, get me a couple 220ah AGM batteries, 2, maybe 3 flexible solar panels for a total of 600 watts (maybe more). doing maintenance on a 29 footer is doable alone, on a 40 footer also doable, painful, but doable. sanding that hull alone……antifoul costs….marina fees….haul out costs….all that is higher. but yeah i will never be able to say the boat is new. but is does have pedigree, the Pioneer 9 (Van de Stadt) was the first boat made in fiberglass in Europe, its a plastic classic as they say, which if kept in good order will see its price rise (slowly for sure) as it slowly approaches 2062. ppl do value that and value something that as been well kept. this is not a comparison, this is just a different take on reality.

How about removing and checking the chain plates, removing the keel if bolt on, and removing and splitting the rudder open? How is the mast step and the bulkheads? Point being that with a 58 year old boat, that all needs doing before she can be classed as ready for sea. Buying and fitting new gear is not what makes a refit hurt, it’s the real hard structural stuff that gets you.

Anyway, none of this matters, because as you say this is a different situation and as I say it’s all very interesting but not relevant to whether or not the A40 will work, which is what we are discussing here. Not many people will go to sea in a 29 foot boat, at least not more than once! Also, most people do not regard the cost of their time as free.

So your boat works for you, and that’s cool, but the A40 will work for other people, and that’s cool too. Neither is a better way than the other, just different. Neither must fail to make the other succeed.

Yes the chain plates are getting redone, not only that they have been redesigned by me to bolt on on the side rather that thru the deck and sheerclamp (which was generating water ingress and rotting the wooden sheerclamp on those areas (all in all only 15% of the sheerclamp needs replacing, not bad for a 58 yo boat) all of that is being replaced with G10 fibreboard which will never rot again) the cost of the chain plates? free. courtesy of an american friend that has a shipyard in china. i will install then. The keel bolts are also being replaced, will need to sail to HK for that, once done, they should be good another 30 years at least and also increase the resale value of the boat. The spars are fine (not original, they were installed 20 years ago) and the mast step is also good, courtesy of a former owner which installed a SS reinforcing structure on the inside, transforming a step deck mast into a bilge stepped one. the boat has one structural bulkhead which is fine, all the other partition-semi bulkheads and are good, some G10 insert needed in some areas but nothing major. im building a molded water tank in the stb quarter berth which will also reinforce the hull and doing a molded diesel tank on portside. all done in G10 so i will never have to to worry again. the electric system is getting totally redone and designed by Jeff Cote at Pacific Yacht systems, i will do the install on that also. the bilge is also a generous place and i will build (thru vaccum bagging, so that they follow the exact shape of the bilge) individual reserve tanks for diesel, and water which allows for easy removal and inspection of keel bolts. about the rudder i dont know its condition so will have to probe it on the next haul out. Macau doest have any lifting equipment so we cant get the boat out and work on them. THe seacocks are also being replaced, some of them deleted permanentely (will have a composting toilet for instance) and some of them added (as i will have AC on board, a smaller 3500 btu unit). All that i said about the A40 is aimed more at the eventual profit made the builder rather then the custumer. i do think there will be ppl interested but i dont see that much money in for the builder and no one goes into bussiness to have a higher risk (new boat, no name in the market, no track records, all of those take time to establish) and meager earnings, hence my idea for the kit, which would increase the builder margin. sure ppl would have to invest some time in it, but there are manufacturers with pretty interesting building methods nowadays. There is an American couple i follow on youtube (MJ Sailing) whom are building a Max42 Catamaran which will take 2 years because it is all pre finished, they chose the interior layout and all the bell and whistles they think suits them. total cost? 202k, but hey its a 42 fr performance cat not a 40 foot monohull. (i am a mono hull guy, would always go for a mono than a cat)

Since the guys need a French Designer the re is a guy named Eric Hanseval, which due to covid has transition to another field but his webpage is still up. He designed some very smart boats. I even bought the plans for a his mini transat , called the Aviateur (5.7 meters long) which has tremendous potential as a ocean crossing boat (not for everyone though)and i was hell bent on building and even draw it up in autocad and redesigned the interior myself. He also as a 9 and 11 meter designs which are similar to the A40, maybe someone wants to call the guy up (if you havent still found a designer), im almost sure we would love to be involved.

Good to hear that you are doing it right. That said, if you get all that done within your time and money budget you are way smarter and more productive than me. https://www.morganscloud.com/2012/03/17/are-refits-worth-it/

Anyway, I wish you good luck with it.

Would an aluminium A40 be feasible ?.. Think unpainted with hard chines to reduce build costs. It would also save a lot on the inital tooling in moulds etc. An aluminium A40 would be a very interesting proposition something I would consider very seriously.

Hi Patrick,

While, as you probably know, I’m a huge aluminium fan, it’s not the right material for the A40 project. I explain why here: https://www.morganscloud.com/2013/01/07/adventure-40-faqthe-boat/

The time-consuming, high-labour-cost task of welding aluminum might become much less of a concern in the near future, with new laser-based technology that is starting to come onto the market. But painting the stuff will remain an absolute bear of a job for a long time yet. And it will never be as forgiving of neglect and poor maintenance as fibreglass is.

I would leave paint out of the equation completely. KMY are using some kind of stick on material to apply the non skid on the Bestevaer boats and they recently did a refit project on an ovni that used the same.

Just paint below the waterline and leave it unpainted. Personally i like “Tough” look of an unpainted auluminium hull.

In so far as the special care that an Aluminium hull requires I think a relatively small investment in writing a clear and concise manual on the subject and supply it with the boat would go a long way towards solving that problem. After all anyone dropping $200K on a boat would have a decent incentive to take reasonably good care of it. And it’s not that hard to do. The info here on AAC proves that.

Solve the welding cost component “Matt’s suggestion” and it would give the fibreglass option a run for its money. R Patrick

Great to hear this project has been resurrected! I’m excited to learn more as it progresses. My wife and I are beginning to search for an ocean capable cruising boat and I’ve gained a ton of insight just in the past six months since joining AAC and Andy’s Quarterdeck. Big thanks to you and the entire community on this site!

Your content marketing strategy seems spot on to me. Dog whistle branding. I’m your dog (Gen X, interested in experiences more than stuff, have the resources to pay $200,000 for a boat but not $500,000, see the investment as one that will create experiences rather than be another trophy to show my friends, etc). Your dog whistle is sharing your knowledge and experience through the content you provide. Keep blowing the whistle and the dogs will come. People who aren’t dogs won’t even hear it.

If someone had told me 20 years ago that the backcountry ski market would explode in the 2010’s I’d have told them they were crazy. I never saw the potential market being big enough. How many people want to spend 95% of their ski day sweating their way uphill just for two or three runs all day? As anyone in the mountains today will tell you – plenty! Certainly enough to make a viable market for backcountry equipment, guide services, etc. Shows you what I know.

Any concern about a potential glut in the market 3 – 5 years from now as more and more boomers age out of their boats and a percentage of the COVID frenzy buyers decide cruising wasn’t for them?

I agree, the price point is good, and it’s vital to hit it, or at least close.

The other thing to remember is that if something goes wrong in ones life and the boat must go, an A40 will be way easier to sell than a half refited 30 year old boat, so a way safer option.

And thanks for the encouragement on our marketing strategy.

As to worrying about a glut. Not worried at all. Those ex-boomer boats will most all need a bunch of work that will, at least in many cases, bring them up to a higher out of pocket cost than the A40. So our job here at AAC is to educate people about the real costs of refits, and particularly the opportunity costs: time with family and cruising years lost.

For those that understand and value those two “soft” costs the A40 will always be a no brainer value proposition.

Many thanks for all the input! Please understand that we don’t answer each comment one by one: we totally second the answers by John, and we are putting our available time into preparing the specifications. Issues like fund raising, marketing and pricing will come much later. In short, and in line with what has been said by others,

• we think that funding won’t be that difficult if we first build a technically (in the broad sense) sound project,
• we don’t plan that much product marketing will be necessary.

A last thing: many names have been put forward for the designer. However, our aim is to make things happen in France, and that implies a designer who communicates in french with the builder and other parties, and who is able to go meet people a few times, when necessary – hence, a France-based designer. Please don’t worry, it does exist!

This is exciting news! My partner and I have been looking for a capable offshore boat to purchase and hopefully live on. We have been living on and off a little Pearson 33 for the past few years but recently have wanted to invest in something for long term cruising. I am extremely interested in this project even though it would be at the very top of what we would think to spend on a full time live aboard/cruiser. I look at boats constantly and the asking price and definite refit costs + time for refit just doesn’t add up for me. The possibility to be able to buy a brand new offshore boat with the design laid out in these articles is extremely appealing. I wonder if any sort of timeline can be estimated if the project gets off the ground…. Looking forward to all of the updates!

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for the enthusiasm. Just the kind of comment that encourages us to work harder.

Probably a little early to guess at a date when you can buy a boat, but I do know that Pascal and Maxine are working on the design specification. Once that’s in place (a month or so) we should have a better idea.

That said, if you twisted my arm for a wild guess on the first boats launching I would say 18 months.

Many thanks for your comment!

Regarding the timeline, the short answer is that we’re not under some kind of strict schedule, and we plan to put project quality and robustness first – but we’re impatient to go to the next phases. The longer and more accurate answer should come in a few months, when we will better know how professionals in France react to the project!

I recently joined the site (based on Andy’s suggestion) and have never expected to find an alternative to researching used boats and dreading whether we’ll eventually buy a rotten egg. A40 seems a great alternative, and may become plan A instead.

One thing I would suggest: I was looking for the place where I can leave my interest. Where is it? And if I was not able to find it chances are others will miss it as well. Can you put it on a prominent place?

There’s a form for you to fill in at the bottom of the above article under a large headline “Sign UP”. What would you suggest to make it more prominent? Perhaps you have some sort of ad blocker or security software that is stopping the form showing up? If so I suggest you turn it off when at AAC since we don’t have ads and it will interfere with other features of the site that use Javascript.

Thanks! I guess the reason I missed it was that due to many comments the form ended up being in the middle of the page. I would suggest putting it at the top and adding a link to it on all A40 related pages. Or better still creating a separate Sign up page/”article” altogether (with links on other articles).

The reason for such exposure would be that understanding the interest is currently the biggest unkown.

Makes sense?

I agree that having an additional Sign Up area closer to the top of strategic pages would be helpful. Perhaps also give both sign up areas a contrasting background color.

And although it would require more web dev effort, it would also be interesting to consider the addition of a site-wide banner (not a dreadful pop up!) with a catchy headline so that any new user coming to a landing page from search results would see it. A headline such as “Big News: The Adventure 40 is Back.” “Learn more about the ONLY affordable cruiser that’s ocean capable on day one,” or something like that, with a link to this page. (Once on this page, the sign up area should be prominent.)

I’m sure John doesn’t want to clutter up the user experience of the site, but I think such a banner could be tastefully designed. With this addition and the fine tuning of the current sign up form, you’d have a basic sign up funnel following a pattern that most web savvy customers are used to.

I hear you, but for a whole bunch of modern web design reasons AAC is a banner and pop up free zone, and will stay that way. And, if we add stuff like that we change the feel from a pure information based reference site to an advertising based feel and that’s totally against our brand identity.

Bottom line, my thinking is that if people are not reading carefully enough to notice a sign up form that takes up half their screen they are not likely to be real A40 prospects.

That said, I will add the form at the bottom of all A40 articles.

Not sure I can really understand how a link would be more noticeable than a form that takes up half the screen with a 35 px bold headline headline saying “Sign Up”.

And putting the form at the top would make no sense in the context of the article.

Probably better to just add the form to all new articles on the A40, which was my intent anyway, and then add it to all the old articles.

Anyway, good to hear that the form is working for you and not blocked.

yes, adding it to all articles makes sense as my problem was to first find the article that has the sign up and than read down to the sign up form (on an iPad that shows less than a typicall computer screen). Once I go there, yes 35px was more than enough. Also, consider adding link to the form to ” A Boat To GO, Not To Dream ” small section.

One other point, we already have the interest established based on the sign ups we already have, the retention or the old ones, and the number of new ones on this article, so that’s in fact a known, and has been for several years. The biggest problem has always been getting someone to take on building the boat and it looks like that might be solved.

Hi John and Phyllis, and Pascal and Maxime, Great news that the project goes ahead!

If it might be of any use, let me offer you my voluntary (i.e. free of charge =) help in creating some 3D models of the project, aimed at the visual (rather than engineering) representation of the boat for the future owners, investors, and any other stakeholder.

Phyllis has got my email if needed =)

Best regards, and good luck!

Hi Ignat, This is really kind of you! For now, we are specifying the ship, and we don’t want to influence the architect in his creativity with illustrations. Thus the time for graphic representations will come after the architect has completed the preliminary design!

Other than the obvious price point/build finishes, how is the A40 different than the Outbound you have often reviewed?

Hi Jeffrey,

First off, the A40 is a way smaller boat.

For the rest of it, you would need to read our reviews of both. See under “Topics” on the menu.

If after that, you have specific questions about either I will be happy to answer them.

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Rebuilding Paradise: The Bitter End Yacht Club’s Inspiring Comeback

By: Shannon Sinnard Destinations

Nestled at the northeastern tip of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, the Bitter End Yacht Club has long been a premier maritime destination for sailors. For years, this iconic resort has drawn seafarers from around the globe, offering a serene escape amidst the sparkling waters of the Caribbean.

While the term “bitter end” often refers to the final part of a rope or chain, the phrase can also signify reaching the farthest point or the end destination of a long or difficult journey. The founders of the Bitter End Yacht Club chose this name to reflect both its geographical location and the spirit of adventure and perseverance inherent to sailors. For those who navigate to this end-of-the-line point, the BEYC stands as a haven where their journey culminates in beauty and tranquility. And, for many, it has long stood as a cherished traditional stop when exploring the waters of the BVI.

A Legendary Past, a Devastating Blow

In more recent years, the Bitter End’s name has embodied not only a physical destination but also a symbolic one. The iconic BEYC experienced a devastating blow in September 2017 when Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in history, wreaked havoc on the Caribbean, leaving the Bitter End Yacht Club in ruins. The devastation was profound, with buildings flattened, boats destroyed, and the once-thriving resort reduced to rubble.

While many Bitter End enthusiasts were devastated to hear of the destruction Hurricane Irma left in her wake, the iconic Bitter End Yacht Club kept its loyal fans updated via its website , detailing both the damage and community efforts to rebuild this beloved BVI institution.

Rising from the Ashes

Having now been rebuilt and risen from the devastation of Hurricane Irma, the Bitter End’s name resonates even more with the idea of enduring and overcoming challenges – much like the sailors who venture to the farthest reaches to get there.

After the storm, the Bitter End Yacht Club faced a long and arduous journey to recovery. But the spirit of resilience and determination among its community never wavered. Fast forward to today, and the Bitter End Yacht Club has not only been rebuilt but has been reimagined, standing as a testament to the power of recovery and the adventurous spirit that made it famous.

A New Era for the Bitter End Yacht Club

The reopening of the Bitter End Yacht Club marks a new chapter in its storied history. The rebuilt resort seamlessly blends the charm and character of its past with modern amenities and environmentally friendly practices. Here’s a glimpse of what visitors can now expect:

State-of-the-Art Marina

The heart of the Bitter End experience, the marina, has been meticulously restored and upgraded, offering deep-water slips that can accommodate yachts up to 200 feet, along with enhanced dockside services. Sailors can enjoy top-notch amenities including electrical hook-ups, fuel, ice, showers, rubbish disposal, and laundry facilities. Additionally, guests have access to the resort’s swimming pool. The BEYC also boasts one of the best deep-water anchorages in the Caribbean, providing many of the same amenities as the docking facilities.

Culinary Delights

Dining at the Bitter End is an experience in itself. The resort’s restaurants feature locally sourced ingredients, celebrating Caribbean flavors with a gourmet twist. Whether it’s a casual beachside meal or an elegant dinner under the stars, the culinary offerings are sure to delight every palate.

Adventure and Exploration

For those with a thirst for adventure, the resort offers a wide range of water sports, including sailing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, and snorkeling. Guests can explore the vibrant coral reefs, embark on a deep-sea fishing expedition, or simply enjoy a leisurely paddle around the bay.

Environmental Stewardship

The Bitter End Yacht Club has embraced sustainability as a core principle in its rebuilding efforts. The resort utilizes renewable energy sources, practices water conservation, and is committed to preserving the natural beauty of the BVI. Initiatives such as coral reef restoration and marine conservation programs are integral to its operations, ensuring that the Bitter End remains a pristine paradise for future generations.

A Bright Future

From its storied past to its recent resurgence, the Bitter End Yacht Club is more than just a return to business; it’s a celebration of resilience, community, and the indomitable spirit of the BVI. As it welcomes back old friends and new, the Bitter End promises to once again be the ultimate retreat for those who seek the thrill of the open sea and the tranquility of an island paradise in one of the most breathtaking locations on earth. 

BRINGING BACK THE BITTER END

AN INSIDE SAILING EDITION WEBINAR • HOSTED BY PETER ISLER

Join Richard and Lauren Hokin as they reminisce about the Bitter End Yacht Club’s past and discuss its exciting reopening as “Bitter End 2.0” after Hurricane Irma.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS A CRUISING GUIDE

The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands is filled with detailed charts of the various anchorages, supported with colorful aerial photography in addition to piloting, anchoring and shoreside information. The Island Connections sections provide valuable telephone, email and website information to make finding island businesses, services and restaurants effortless. Additionally, the guide includes a free, fold-out color 27” x 17” planning chart covering the British and U.S. Virgin Islands. 

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERPROOF CHART

Printed on two sides this new chart includes the U.S. & B.V.I. from St. Thomas to Anegada, including anchorage and mooring locations as well as GPS coordinates, sailing routes and distances between waypoints. Excellent for the cockpit and attractive enough to hang on the wall when you get home.

This planning chart is a duplicate of the one you receive in the guide with the exception of being waterproof.

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Lake Boating : Your Guide to Fun, Safety, and Adventure

Table of Contents

Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Boatsetter Team

Ready to hit the lake and have some waterborne fun? These lake boating tips will help make it happen.

Whether you’re on vacation, enjoying a long weekend, or just visiting for the day, spending time aboard a boat will make a visit to a lake — any lake — a whole lot more fun. News flash: you don’t have to torch your bank account by buying a boat to have all that fun, because in this day and age it’s easy and affordable to rent a boat on Boatsetter . Okay: ready to check out our tips list?

Make a List

Maybe that sounds redundant after we just said there was going to be a list, but seriously, make a list. Gather everyone who will be on the trip together and write down all the boating activities you think would be fun. Water skiing, wake surfing, fishing, picnicking in a quiet cove, zipping across the water at warp speeds, and so on. Then, you’ll have a much better idea of what sort of boat will fit the bill for the kind of fun you want to have. Many families will review the list and realize that a pontoon boat would be tops. Others may decide a sailboat rental would be the best pick. With everyone’s input put down on paper it will be a lot easier to make the right choice. Check out Types of Boats for Lakes to learn more about the different options.

Take a Safe Boating Course for a Secure Adventure

If you haven’t already, take a safe boating course. It may or may not be necessary to get a boating license in the state you’ll be visiting, but regardless it’s a good idea because U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that you’re almost twice as likely to have an accident if you have no safe boating education. If you don’t want or don’t have time to take a course, consider getting a captained rental.

Do Your Research

Do some research on the specific lake you’ll be boating in. Some lakes are shallow and running aground can be a common issue. Others are deep and subject to larger waves. And many have fluctuating water levels that can give rise to either of these issues. You may also discover the water temperature is cooler or hotter than you would have expected, there are areas with speed or activity restrictions, the lake could have subpar fishing, and so on. Checking it out ahead of time so you know what to expect is sure to lead to a better experience.

Utilize the Boatsetter Blog

Go to the Boatsetter blog , look for the “search posts” box at the top of the page, and type in keywords related to the lake you’re going to and the activities you plan on doing. We have tons of informative articles that you may want to check out. If you’re heading for Lake Meade, for example, you’ll discover our Lake Meade Boating Guide . If you think it would be fun to try wakeboarding, you’ll be happy to run across Wakeboarding Basic Tricks . We’ve been at this for a long time, people, so there’s a good chance that whatever you’re interested in finding out about, we’ve got you covered.

Stay Hydrated

Be prepared to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate when you’re out on the water. It seems counter-intuitive to worry about dehydration since you’ll have water all around you, but sunlight is reflected by the water and most boating adventures take place when it’s hot out in the first place. Packing a cooler full of water is key to having a good experience.

Sun Protection

About all that sunshine—along with that water you’ll need plenty of sunscreen, a pair of polarized sunglasses, and a wide-brim hat. Some boats will have Bimini tops or T-tops to provide you with shade, but not all boats do. And even those which do have cover of one sort or another usually don’t shade the entire boat.

Comfortable Life Jackets

Make sure everyone has comfortably fitted life jackets. This goes for adults who plan to wear them all day, but especially for kids who may be required by law to wear one. Cheap, ill-fitting life jackets are anything but comfortable and they can ruin the boating experience. But there are plenty of comfortable models on the market these days and if you get one that fits those tykes properly, they’ll forget they’re even wearing them. Hint: kids love their cartoon characters, so why not get them that Micky Mouse or Spongebob Squarepants edition?

Check the Marine Weather Forecast

Check the marine weather forecast before you go out. It’s easy to get lulled into a sense of security, especially on vacation, when it’s sunny and nice. But sunny and nice can become riddled with lightning bolts and thunder , and you don’t want that to happen when you’re out in the middle of the lake. Note: we say “marine weather forecast” for a reason. Most land-based weather forecasts will show a lower wind speed because winds can build over the water where they aren’t interrupted by trees and buildings. Marine forecasts tend to take factors like this into account, and give you a more accurate idea of just how strong the wind will be and accordingly, just how large the waves will be. If things look iffy, postponing the trip is always a good move.

Visit the Local Tackle Shop

If you plan on fishing, first visit the local tackle shop. Invariably, the people working in tackle shops are dedicated anglers. And since they live in the area, they’ll know the ins and outs of fishing the nearby lakes. Be sure to buy an item or two and strike up a conversation with the person behind the counter. While you can learn a lot from the great and awesome internets, there truly is no substitute for current local knowledge.

Enjoy Your Boating Adventure

Chillax and enjoy yourself. You’ve probably been looking forward to this for a long time, so make the most of the experience and have a great time!

BONUS TIP: How would you like to take that vacation at the lake for free? Sorry, we don’t have any prizes or giveaways for you today. We can point out, however, that if you have a boat of your own you could list it with Boatsetter and make up to $20,000 a year. That will cover a getaway you’ll never forget — boat rental included.

About us

Boatsetter  is the leading online marketplace for boat rentals and on-water experiences. Download the Boatsetter app ( App Store  |  Google Play ) and follow us on  Instagram .

With over three decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to dozens of boating and fishing publications and websites ranging from BoatU.S. Magazine to BDOutdoors.com. Rudow is currently the Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk , he is a past president of Boating Writers International (BWI), a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.

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Luxury Travel Company andBeyond Unveils New Expedition Yacht in the Galapagos Islands

A new expedition yacht is now sailing in the Galápagos Islands: the Galapagos Explorer, from luxury travel company andBeyond. 

The 124-foot vessel began sailing last month on June 15. It operates on two, 7-night routes exploring the east and west regions of the iconic islands. With just six suites and cabins, the yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests and two expert guides.

“A uniquely biodiverse environment with the highest number of endemic species in the world, the Galápagos is a natural choice for the further expansion of our portfolio in South America,” says Joss Kent, the company’s executive chairman and chief executive officer. “We are absolutely thrilled to finally bring our brand of responsible tourism to this precious part of the world, which the Ecuadorian government has protected from over-tourism by strictly limiting the number of operating licenses issued.”

The ship, which was recently refurbished, has one of the best guest-to-staff ratios in the Galápagos . Travelers can choose from two luxury suites and four cabins, and enjoy shared indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Guests can participate in shore excursions like snorkeling, birdwatching, hiking and more.

“We have long believed that the best way to encourage our guests to help protect the world’s wild places is for our skilled guides to help travelers not only fall in love with those places, but also to gain an understanding of the threats that they are facing,” says Kent. “This is what we are aiming to do with our luxury yacht, where two knowledgeable guides will host just twelve guests, showcasing the wonder and mystery of this exceptional destination.”  

During the refurbishment, crews also overhauled the ship’s engines and generators to improve fuel efficiency and lower the vessel’s carbon footprint. The company’s leaders have their eyes on additional sustainability features in the future.

“While some advanced sustainability elements, such as certain solar and electric technologies, are not yet readily available in this environment, we are closely monitoring development in these areas,” says Kent. “As new solutions become available, we continue to evaluate their operational viability in a remote destination like the Galapagos, which has limited-service capabilities. Once these technologies become operationally viable, we plan to implement them.”